Diseases

American Trypanosomiasis (Chagas Disease)

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Chagas disease or kissing bug disease which is also known by the name of american trypanosomiasis is an infection which is caused by a parasite called trypanosoma cruzi. This infection causes inflammatory skin changes and may also cause infection in the heart or the gastrointestinal tract.

This disease basically has three phases which are the acute phase in which there are very mild symptoms which may last for a couple of weeks; the intermediate phase which also has few mild symptoms but it may last for close to 10 years or more; and the chronic phase the symptoms of which are observed after about 20 years with symptoms ranging from moderate to severe and also involving significant organ damage, especially the heart and the gi tract with the symptoms staying forever.