Signs and Symptoms of Chagas Disease
The cause of Chagas disease is an infection with the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which is found in the feces of reduviid bugs. The insects are found in rural areas of Central and South America and Mexico. The bite from the bug allows the parasite to enter the body and multiply. Patients with Chagas disease experience three stages of the illness.-
Acute Symptoms
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Acute symptoms of Chagas disease appear immediately after infection and can last for weeks or months. The symptoms are mild, but treatment is vital in this stage to prevent severe symptoms in the chronic phase of the disease. The bite area may be swollen. Infection may occur at the bite wound or when the patient rubs feces from the reduviid bug into the eyes or an open wound. Symptoms include fever, nausea, body aches, headache, diarrhea, vomiting and fatigue. Patients at an increased risk for Chagas disease should be tested to determine if the parasite is present in the blood. The symptoms may go away on their own, but treatment to kill the parasite is essential to prevent serious complications in the chronic stage of the illness.
Remission
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After the acute phase of Chagas disease, patients experience a phase of remission without symptoms. Remission can last as long as 20 years without symptoms before the chronic stage begins.
Chronic Stage Symptoms
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During the chronic stage of Chagas disease, it is no longer possible to treat the condition by killing the parasite. Instead, doctors treat the symptoms of the disease. The symptoms of chronic stage Chagas disease include irregular heartbeat, constipation and abdominal pain, enlarged esophagus, congestive heart failure, enlarged heart and cardiac arrest. While some patients experience these symptoms many years after an infection with the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite, some patients never experience chronic symptoms. Doctors can use devices to regulate the heart rhythm, or a heart transplant may be necessary, according to the Mayo Clinic.
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