They bite at night and leave more than an itch.
By Joe Lombardi, Jackson Daily Voice
Chagas disease is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi and is primarily spread by triatomine “kissing” bugs.
Most infections in the United States were acquired in Latin America, but local transmission does occur in the US, particularly in the South and Southwest where the insects are more common.
The CDC estimates about 280,000 people in the United States are living with Chagas— many unaware — because early infection often has few or no symptoms.
Without treatment, 20 to 30 percent develop serious heart rhythm problems, heart failure, or digestive complications years later, according to the CDC.
The parasite is shed in the bug’s feces, not its bite. Infection happens when contaminated feces enter through a break in the skin or the eyes or mouth, often when a person scratches a bite.
Kissing bugs live outdoors under woodpiles, rocks, and in animal nests, and can occasionally enter homes, especially near where pets or rodents sleep.
Map of the US with states that have reported triatomine bugs highlighted.
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