Is Chagas disease common in Texas?
Chagas in Texas From the years 2013-2016, 91 cases of Chagas disease were reported in Texas. Of those cases, 20 people were infected while in Texas, and the other cases were probably acquired outside of Texas or the U.S. While there are not very many cases, many people may be living with the disease and not know it.
Where are kissing bugs found in Texas?
Kissing bugs are nocturnal, blood-feeding insects that can fly. They mostly are seen during warmer months around dog kennels, woodpiles, cracks and crevasses, rock piles, beneath wooden decks, hunting cabins, deer blinds, under tree bark and in outdoor sheds or patios.
What percentage of kissing bugs carry Chagas?
Eleven different kinds of kissing bugs are in the United States. Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona are the states with the most different species and most findings of kissing bugs. Scientists have found that about 50% of kissing bugs are infected with the Chagas parasite.
What are the symptoms of Chagas disease in humans?
Symptoms
- Swelling at the infection site.
- Fever.
- Fatigue.
- Rash.
- Body aches.
- Eyelid swelling.
- Headache.
- Loss of appetite.
What eats the kissing bug?
For over a hundred years, the scientific literature has accepted that these insects feed exclusively on blood. However, this research shows that they also consume sugar and nutrients from fruits.
Can you be cured of Chagas disease?
Treatment. To kill the parasite, Chagas disease can be treated with benznidazole and also nifurtimox. Both medicines are nearly 100% effective in curing the disease if given soon after infection at the onset of the acute phase, including the cases of congenital transmission.
Are there assassin bugs in Texas?
assassin bug. Most species of assassin bugs are gray to black or brownish in color, though some are brightly colored. Zelus is a common genus with several species in Texas. The milkweed assassin bug, Zelus longipes, is the most distinctive species.
How long can a person live with Chagas disease?
Chagas disease has an acute and a chronic phase. If untreated, infection is lifelong. Acute Chagas disease occurs immediately after infection, and can last up to a few weeks or months. During the acute phase, parasites may be found in the circulating blood.