Question

In the long term, which organs are affected by chronic Chagas’ disease?

Answer 1

Chagas disease is an infection caused by a protozoan parasite (Trypanosoma cruzi) that can result in acute inflammatory skin changes (chagomas) and may eventually cause infection and inflammation of many other body tissues, especially those of the heart and intestinal tract. It transmitted to humans from the feces of triatomine bugs (kissing bugs). The parasites usually enter the mammalian (human) host through the bug bite, or breaks in the skin or conjunctiva, replicate in mammalian cells, and may eventually reach other organs through the blood.

Chronic-phase symptoms and signs of Chagas disease may be irregular heart beats, EKG changes, palpitations, fainting (syncope), cardiomyopathy, congestive heart failure, shortness of breath (dyspnea), emphysema, stroke, sudden death, chronic abdominal pain, chronic constipation, dilated colon, and difficulty swallowing. There is no vaccine against Chagas disease parasites for humans, but many experts suggest that elimination of primitive housing and increasing education about the disease may prevent most cases of Chagas disease; insecticides and insect repellants may also help prevent Chagas disease.