The Condition"...If you think you might have this disease, see your health care provider who will order blood tests to look for the parasite or for antibodies in your blood..."

An infection caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. Also called American trypanosomiasis. Transmitted by reduviid bugs, or kissing bugs, that live in cracks and holes of substandard housing primarily found in South and Central America. These insects become infected after biting an animal or person who already has Chagas disease. Infection is spread to humans when an infected bug deposits feces on a person's skin, usually while the person is sleeping at night. The person often accidently rubs the feces into the bite wound, an open cut, the eyes, or mouth. Infected mothers can pass infection to their baby during pregnancy, at delivery, or while breastfeeding . See the entire definition of Chagas disease

A vector-borne parasitic disease, transmitted by triatomine insects, which exists only on the American continent, in an area ranging from Mexico to the south of Argentina.

A disease caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi and usually transmitted by the bite of a reduviid or “kissing” bug. A nodular swelling or “chagoma” appears at the site of the bite. Severe trypanosomiasis may cause fatal heart disease. See also Human African Trypanosomiasis, commonly known as sleeping sickness. It is estimated that 16-18 million people are infected with Chagas disease; of those infected, 50,000 will die each year (CDC). Treatment with nifurtimox is usually effective when given during the acute stage of infection. Once the disease has progressed to later stages, no medication has been proven to be effective. In the chronic stage, treatment involves managing symptoms associated with the disease.

The Condition"Also called American trypanosomiasis, Chagas disease is an infection caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi..."

Chagas disease (also called American trypanosomiasis) is a human tropical parasitic disease which occurs in the Americas, particularly in South America. Its pathogenic agent is a flagellate protozoan named Trypanosoma cruzi, which is transmitted to humans and other mammals mostly by hematophagous assassin bugs of the subfamily Triatominae (Family Reduviidae). Those insects are known by numerous common names varying by country, including benchuca, vinchuca, kissing bug, chipo and barbeiro.