Chagas Disease (American Sleeping Sickness, American Trypanosomiasis)
What is it?
A parasite infection caused by insect the Reduvid bug/triatomine bug/kissing bugs:
That has left it faeces on the skin of the person and animal infected and unknowing the infected person or animal rubs the parasite in their eyes, mouth or damaged skin
The insects has picked up the parasite from an infected person or animal and has bitten another person and/or animal.
They mainly come out at night and tend to bite one’s face while one is asleep and hence are known as ‘kissing bugs.’
The insects are mainly from Latin America (Central and South America) and are found in rural area where there are mud, adobe and/or thatch houses.
The incubation period:
After oral ingestion of products contaminated with Trypanosoma cruzi is approximately 3-22 days.
4-15 days for vector-borne transmission (disease that results from an infection transmitted to humans and other animals by blood-feeding anthropods, such as mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas)
8-160 days for transfusion and transplant-related transmission
This condition is also referred as American sleeping sickness /or American trypanosomiasis)
It has three phases:
Acute phase
Symptoms at the time of the bite, the symptoms can persist for months but eventually symptoms disappear on their own, but one still has the infection.
Intermittent phase
One feels normal and fine
Chronic phase – (0-20 years later)
One suffers severe heart conditions, swelling of the food pipe (oesophagus) – pain and difficulty swallowing, breathing difficulties, severe heartburn and one has abdominal swelling causing severe bloated and constipation and even death.
Countries affected are:
South America
Argentina
Bolivia
Brazil
Colombia
Ecuador
French Guiana
Venezuela
Venezuela (Margarita Island)
Spreading to Southern parts United States of America (i.e. Florida) and Mexico
This condition should be considered if hydration and antibiotics has not helped and there is an group/outbreak of cases
Cause
Parasite: Trypanosoma Cruzi
Other causes:
Transmission from infected person to another via cough, air, saliva (kissing)
Sexual contact
Touching surfaces with insect faeces unknowingly and then touch eyes, ears, nose and mouth.
Oral ingestion through contaminated food and beverages
Any food and drink left unattended in these regions
Home made fresh fruit juices from local regions i.e. palm wine, sugar cane, and tangerine juice etc
Eating wild animals from local regions
Contaminated uncooled food
Mother to baby in womb during pregnancy and during breastfeeding
If you’re travelling to a country where there’s a high risk of getting the condition, the Information below can help prevent infection:
Don’t drink the local water unless you’re sure it’s clean (sterile) – drink bottled water or drinks in sealed cans or bottles.
If the water isn’t sterile, boil it for several minutes or use chemical disinfectant or a reliable filter.
Don’t clean your teeth with tap water.
Don’t have ice in your drinks because it may be made from unclean water.
Avoid fresh fruit or vegetables that can’t be peeled before eating.
Avoid food and drink sold by street vendors, except drinks in properly sealed cans or bottles.
NHS choices
Future advise especially when travelling to an infectious country:
Fresh foods: those that are peeled or cooked are the safest
Avoid high risk foods like shellfish
Boiling water is the best method of sterilisation
Chemicals are useful for preparing safe drinking water but have their limitations
Chlorine-based tablets are widely available and will be appropriate for most travellers
More intrepid travellers and those planning to use surface waters as a drinking water source should use an iodine-based product.
Panel 1: Choice of foods for the traveller
Usually safe
Risky
Best avoided
Freshly prepared and hot , cooked food including meat and consume quickly. boiled dairy i.e. milk and/or Indian chai.
Food from street vendors unless fresh and hot
Poorly stored food Cold foods left standing especially sauces Avoid buffets (hot or cold) left standing along time
Peeled fruit
Unpeeled fruit and salad unless well washed in clean water
Broad leafed salad i.e. lettuce due to large surface area packed with organisms- harder to wash off all
Canned food Dried food (bread, rice and pasta ) and freshly baked bread
Ice cream
Shellfish Rare meat and fish Unpasteurised dairy products Ice containing drinks
Iodine or chlorine used for water purification (as discussed later) can also be used for soaking and manufacturers of food products give recommendations for the appropriate concentrations.
There are three methods by which the traveller can prepare clean drinking water:
Boiling:
Boil water for a full five minutes at any altitude.
Chemical disinfection:
Iodine, chlorine, katedyne silver.
Filtration
The Pharmaceutical Journal, PJ, January 2000;():DOI:10.1211/PJ.2000.20000218
Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice
Detailed Information
Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Chagas Disease (American Sleeping Sickness, American Trypanosomiasis) in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).
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