(FOX40.COM) – On Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report to raise awareness about the deadly Triatomine bugs, otherwise known as “Kissing bug”.
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The disease that comes with the “Kissing bug” is called called Chagas. According to the CDC, the disease can cause severe fatigue in the early stages, in addition to heart and digestive problems at the start, which surface when it’s in the chronic stage.
CDC said states with the human cases include California, Arizona, Tennessee, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi and Arkansas.
Here’s some information and data about the infection spread by insects.
How it Spreads
“Kissing bugs” can bite and suck blood from infected animals or people, the CDC shared on its website, which is how the bug gets the T. Cruzi parasites.
After the bug has bitten, the parasites pass their droppings, health officials said. If the droppings get into someone’s body through a cut in the skin or near the eyes, it can lead to an infection.
When people scratch or rub big feces into a bite wound, their eyes, or mouth without knowing, it allows the parasites to enter the body.
Bug Bites Contracted
There have been around 282,000 reported human cases of the bug disease in the U.S.
The CDC website said many people can have this disease and not know it and without treatment, it can be life-threatening.
In the United States, Chagas disease does exist, but it is not regularly spread by Triatomine bugs; however, it is important to recognize that when infected, it can be spread through blood transfusion, organ transplants, and from pregnant women to their babies.
“The kissing bug, also known as the triatomine bug, bites and sucks blood from infected animals or people. This is how the bug gets the T. cruzi parasites,” the CDC stated. “After biting, bugs pass the parasite in their droppings. If these droppings get into someone’s body through a cut in the skin, or near the eyes or mouth, it can lead to infection.”
Symptoms after being bitten
CDC said that in the acute phase, if bitten by the “Kissing bug”, in the early stages, which is the first week or months after getting infected, the symptoms are mild or not there at all. The symptoms include:
- Fever
- Feeling tired
- Body aches
- Headache
- Rash
- Loss of appetite
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Eyelid swelling (Romaña’s sign)
When in the chronic phase, CDC officials state this can last many years or even a lifetime.
“Most people have no symptoms during this time,” CDC officials said. “However, about 20 – 30% of those infected develop serious problems.”
The symptoms of this phase include:
- Heart issues, such as an enlarged heart, heart failure, altered heart rate or rhythm, or sudden death.
- Digestive problems, such as an enlarged esophagus or colon, can lead to trouble eating or going to the bathroom.
Risk Factors
CDC authorities stated that if a family member has Chagas disease, it is important to get tested, especially for those who “might have been exposed in the same way, for example, because you lived in rural parts of Mexico or Central or South America.”
Prevention
The CDC has advised that if you are traveling to a place that has Chagas disease, be sure to do the following:
- Stay in well-built places such as air-conditioned or screened hotel rooms.
- Sleep under bed nets treated with long-lasting insecticide.
- Wear clothing that covers your skin and use bug spray on skin that’s exposed.
- Do not eat salads, raw vegetables, unpeeled fruits, and unpasteurized fruit juices.
CDC wants to remind the public that at this time, there are no vaccines or drugs that can prevent Chagas disease.
Adoreil Ayoubgoulan
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