Causes and risk factors
Chagas disease is caused by parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. The disease is transmitted after the bite of an insect called as triatomine bug or kissing bug. After the bite, the insect leaves parasite on the skin of the person. Parasite gains entry into the body when the person scratches the bitten area or through eyes or mouth. Other modes of transmission are blood transfusion, through breast milk, from pregnant women to her baby, by organ transplant.
Clinical presentation
Disease can present in acute phase or chronic phase. Acute phase includes signs and symptoms such as fever, fatigue, body aches, headache, and rash. Patient complains of loss of appetite, diarrhoea, vomiting. Swollen glands, liver and spleen enlargement is seen. Romana’s sign i.e. swelling of the eyelids on the side of the face near the bite wound is observed. In Chronic phase patient does not produce any symptoms. Symptoms if present are mainly related to nervous system, heart and digestive tract. Following are the symptoms abnormal heart rhythm, enlarged heart [cardiomyopathy], heart failure, megacolon, megaoesophagus, weight loss, swallowing difficulties.
Investigation
Medical history by the patient and Clinical examination by the doctor helps in diagnosis. A blood test to detect the parasite is advised. Following test will be ordered to check whether the infection has damaged heart and digestive tract- Upper endoscopy, abdominal x-ray, and electrocardiogram.
Treatment
Anti parasitic medications are recommended to treat the disease. Medicines like anti pyretic, analgesics, NSAIDs are required. Supportive care with symptomatic treatment is given for neurological, cardiac or gastrointestinal problems arising from chagas disease. Vector control is the most effective method to prevent chagas disease in Latin America.
Other Modes of treatment
The other modes of treatment can also be effective in treating chaga’s disease. Homoeopathy is a science which deals with individualization considers a person in a holistic way. This science can be helpful in combating the symptoms. Similarly the ayurvedic system of medicine which uses herbal medicines and synthetic derivates are also found to be effective in treating chaga’s disease.
Facts and figures
7 to 8 million people are affected worldwide by Chaga’s disease. It was principally confined to Latin America, but has now spread to other continents.
