Chagas disease

31 March 2021

Chagas disease, also known as American trypanosomiasis, is a potentially life-threatening illness caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi).

About 6 million to 7 million people worldwide are estimated to be infected with Trypansosoma cruzi, the parasite that causes Chagas disease. Chagas disease is found mainly in endemic areas of 21 continental Latin American countries, where it has been mostly transmitted to humans by contact with faeces or urine of triatomine bugs (vector-borne), known as 'kissing bugs', among many other popular names, depending on the geographical area.

Chagas disease is named after Carlos Ribeiro Justiniano Chagas, a Brazilian physician and researcher who discovered the disease in 1909. In May 2019, following up on decision of the 72 World Health Assembly, the World Chagas Disease Day was established to be celebrated on 14 April (the date of the year 1909 when Carlos Chagas diagnosed the first human case of the disease, a two-year old girl called Berenice).

Fábio Nascimento-DNDi
Isaac Bruno and Roberta Luna Miranda. They lived in a detached house near Yautepec when they were both stung. Isaac was stung and had acute reactions, such as headache, bone and fever. He went to the health center and was quickly diagnosed and treated with Benzonidazole. After 3 days of treatment the temperature dropped and the symptoms subsided. Nowadays Isaac has negative results and no symptoms. Roberta, 36, Isaac's wife, was also infected. It is already being treated and feels better, but it is still an undefined case, having been infected two years ago.

About 6–7 million people worldwide, mostly in Latin America, are estimated to be infected with Trypanosoma cruzi, the parasite that causes Chagas disease.

Mathew Perkins

Vector control and other strategies are key methods to prevent Chagas disease in Latin America.

© Ijeoma-Ukazu
Man holds up his vaccination card

Chagas disease patients are at risk of severe COVID-19 manifestations and should be a priority group to be vaccinated.

BeatChagas Organizacion

A few countries have implemented the reporting and surveillance of acute and chronic cases and active transmission routes, which are critical to the control of Chagas disease.

A health worker showing a wallpaper describing the several steps for the Chagas disease diagnosis.

Chagas disease has strong socio-economic and environmental determinants and its different dimensions linked in a gearing mechanism justify the necessity of multi-sectorial approaches.

Lighthouse50

Chagas disease was once entirely confined to rural areas of the Region of the Americas – principally Latin America – but the disease has spread to other continents (where T. cruzi is transmitted through non-vectorial routes).

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