Question 1

what is chagas disease?

Accepted Answer

Parasitic disease: Chaga's a tropical parasitic disease caused by the parasite trypanosoma cruzi, transmitted by the reduvid "kissing bugs" in parts of south and central america. After an acute symptomatic phase, some people go on to develop chronic chaga's, which can involve the nervous system, GI tract, or heart.

Question 2

what causes chagas disease?

Accepted Answer

Chagas' disease: It is an organism called trypanosoma cruzi.  Read the Wiki:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chagas_disease

Question 3

how does chagas disease spread?

Accepted Answer

By insects: The causative agent of chagas disease (t. Cruzi) is transmitted by bloodsucking insects or kissing bugs.

Question 4

what sort of disease is chagas' disease?

Accepted Answer

Parasite: Parasite spread by insects primarily in south america. Can cause problems later in life in digestive and cardiac disease.

Question 5

what is this chagas disease i heard about?

Accepted Answer

A trypanosome: A blood borne parasite spread by bites from bugs called "kissing bugs" that is rare in the usa but common in mexico and central america.

Question 6

what is chagas disease and where is it common?

Accepted Answer

It is an infection.: Chagas disease occurs mainly in South America but can also occur in the United States. Trypanosoma cruzi is the name of the parasite that causes the disease. The parasites are transmitted between animals and humans by triatomine bugs (also known as kissing bugs).  The disease primarily affects the heart, esophagus and colon.

Question 7

how fast can i make my chagas disease go away?

Accepted Answer

It make long time: About 30% of infected people who are not treated will develop chronic or symptomatic chagas disease. It may take more than 20 years from the time of the original infection to develop heart or digestive problems.
Abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias, ventricular tachycardia) may cause sudden death. Once heart failure develops, death usually occurs within several years.

Question 8

what are symptoms of chagas disease; how would you know you had it?

Accepted Answer

Chagas disease: In early stages there may be no sumptoms except little swelling at site of mosquito bite, acute stage responds to antiparasitic treatment with60to80%suscess, but20to40%can develop  life threatening heart and GI problems.
Sometimes you may not know you hace it.The disease is prevalent in south america and is spread by bite of blood sucking kissing bugs, so if you get bitten you vave to have blood test.

Question 9

how common are cases of chagas disease originating from bites in the usa?

Accepted Answer

Not very common: As your question suggests, most cases in the United States originated in Latin America with individuals having become infected as children. The parasitic infection is transmitted by the kissing bug, Triatomine, biting near the eyes or mouth. Chagas is a reportable disease in only 4 states in the US, including Texas. A very small number, 10 or fewer, of cases have been reported as locally acquired.

Question 10

what are the chances of a person living in the u.s. getting chagas disease?

Accepted Answer

Small: Higher if you live in a rual area close to medican border, where the hygiene and sewage system are lacking.

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What is this chagas disease i heard about?

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What is chagas disease and where is it common?

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How fast can i make my chagas disease go away?

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How common are cases of chagas disease originating from bites in the usa?

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