Chaga's danger of deadly tropical disease

„Chagas“: Doctors warn of deadly infectious disease

13/11/2014

In the US, the fear of a deadly infectious disease transmitted by bedbugs is growing. Already more than 300,000 citizens of the country are with „Chagas“ infected. Through travelers, the tropical disease could also reach Europe.

Experts warn against infectious disease
In the United States, the fear of the deadly tropical disease is growing „Chagas“. Already more than 300,000 Americans are infected with the virus. As various media now report, US experts warned at a congress for tropical medicine against the parasitic infectious disease. Left untreated, the disease transmitted by the feces of raub bugs can be fatal. The disease is widespread in South and Central America. It was reportedly brought to the United States by patients traveling on vacation or on business trips to Mexico or South America.

Bloodsuckers preferably bite at night
The nocturnal bloodsuckers bite their victims preferably in the lips or eye areas and thereby excrete feces, in which the pathogen is located. The parasite then enters the puncture wound by unconscious rubbing and spreads in the body. The US Agency for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also notes that „Chagas“ can also spread through blood transfusions and organ transplants. And breast milk is infectious. According to the Fraunhofer Institute, nearly ten million people worldwide are infected with the virus, especially in South and Central America. Due to tourists and immigrants, however, a stronger worldwide distribution is conceivable.

Especially the heart and intestines are affected
The diagnosis of the disease is difficult at an early stage, since the first symptoms also occur in many other diseases. So it comes at the beginning often to complaints such as fever, fatigue, diarrhea, shortness of breath, abdominal pain and lymphadenopathy. It can also cause painful swelling and redness in the area of ​​the bite. In the further course it comes then to a chronic Herzvergrößerung with tachycardia and performance weakness. Affected are also the brain and the intestine, especially by intestinal obstruction, intestinal perforation or peritonitis.

Illness can be fatal if left untreated
According to experts, if left untreated, the disease can be fatal in about ten percent of all cases, particularly infants and toddlers. A vaccine is not available. Although there are two medicines for the disease, they have serious side effects. The best protection for locals and travelers to America is therefore to avoid bug bites. This can be done with appropriate clothing or mosquito nets. In several of the affected countries, people have begun to try to eradicate the bloodsuckers. (Ad)