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Chagas disease - Overview

Alternative Names

American trypanosomiasis

Definition of Chagas disease:

Chagas disease is an illness spread by insects. It is common in South and Central America.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Chagas disease is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, a parasite related to the African trypanosome that causes sleeping sickness. It is spread by reduvid bugs and is one of the major health problems in South America. Due to immigration, the disease also affects people in the United States.

Risk factors for Chagas disease include:

Living in a hut where reduvid bugs live in the walls
Living in Central or South America
Poverty
Receiving a blood transfusion from a person who carries the parasite but does not have active Chagas disease

Kissing bug

Antibodies

Reviewed last on: 9/28/2008
Jatin M. Vyas, PhD, MD, Instructor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Neva FA. American trypanosomiasis (Chagas' disease). In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier, 2007;chap 368.

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