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Chagas disease

Trypanosomiasis americana (morbus Chagas) · Chagasova nemoc

What it is

A parasite spread by 'kissing bugs' in Latin America that, decades later, enlarges the heart and the gut in a third of those infected.

Symptoms & signs

  • Swollen eyelid or bite site early on
  • fever
  • decades later: heart failure and rhythm problems
  • trouble swallowing (megaoesophagus)
  • severe constipation (megacolon)

🚩 Get help if…

  • call 112 / 911 now Fainting or a racing, irregular heartbeat
  • call 112 / 911 now Chest pain or sudden breathlessness
  • see a doctor soon Swollen legs or breathless when lying flat
  • see a doctor soon Food sticking on swallowing or no stool for over a week

Where it strikes

Medical treatment

  • Antibody tests; screening of pregnant women and donors
  • benznidazole or nifurtimox
  • heart-failure and pacemaker care
  • surgery for enlarged organs

Natural & lifestyle

  • Insecticide in homes, bed nets
  • screening of blood and organ donors

Emerging & experimental

  • Shorter benznidazole courses
  • vaccines

Alternative, off-label & anecdotal

Approaches used outside the guidelines, with what their supporters report and what testing has found so far.

  • Herbal antiparasitic teas — untested anecdotal / traditional
  • Selenium — a trial in Chagas heart disease is under way early / small studies
  • Resveratrol — animal studies early / small studies

ICD codes