A parasitic infection caused by Trypanosoma cruzi. It is transmitted by insect bites. It is characterized by an acute and chronic phase; in the acute phase patients may have fever, malaise, and swelling at the site of the insect bite. In the chronic phase patients develop hepatosplenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, cardiomyopathy and arrhythmias.

A protozoan infection that is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi; it is transmitted by triatomine insects, and is characterized by acute (fever and local swelling) and chronic (hepatosplenomegaly, lymphadenopathy, cardiomyopathy) phases.

Infection with the protozoan parasite TRYPANOSOMA CRUZI, a form of TRYPANOSOMIASIS endemic in Central and South America. It is named after the Brazilian physician Carlos Chagas, who discovered the parasite. Infection by the parasite (positive serologic result only) is distinguished from the clinical manifestations that develop years later, such as destruction of PARASYMPATHETIC GANGLIA; CHAGAS CARDIOMYOPATHY; and dysfunction of the ESOPHAGUS or COLON.

Chagas disease, or American trypanosomiasis, is an illness that can cause serious heart and stomach problems. It is caused by a parasite. Chagas disease is common in Latin America, especially in poor, rural areas. It can also be found in the United States, most often in people who were infected before they moved to the U.S. Chagas disease is caused by the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite. It is usually spread by infected blood-sucking bugs called triatomine bugs. They are also known as "kissing bugs" because they often bite people's faces. When one of these bugs bites you, it leaves behind infected waste. You can become infected if you rub the waste in your eyes or nose, the bite wound, or a cut. Chagas disease can also spread through contaminated food, a blood transfusion, a donated organ, or from the pregnant parent to the baby during pregnancy. Kissing bugs can be found throughout the Americas, but they are more common in certain areas. The people who are most at risk for Chagas disease: Live in rural areas of Latin America; Have seen the bugs, especially in those areas; Have stayed in a house with a thatched roof or with walls that have cracks or crevices. In the beginning, there may be no symptoms. Some people do get mild symptoms, such as: Fever; Fatigue; Body aches; Headache; Loss of appetite; Diarrhea; Vomiting; A rash; A swollen eyelid. These early symptoms usually go away. However, if you don't treat the infection, it stays in your body. Later, it can cause serious intestinal and heart problems such as: An serious arrhythmia (a problem with the rate or rhythm of your heartbeat) that can cause sudden death; An enlarged heart that doesn't pump blood well; Problems with digestion and bowel movements; An increased chance of having a stroke. To find out if you have Chagas disease, your health care provider: Will do a physical exam; Will take your medical history, including asking about your symptoms and where you have lived and traveled; Will run a blood test for Chagas disease; May run tests to see whether the disease has affected your intestines and heart. Medicines can kill the parasite, especially early on. You can also treat related problems. For example, a pacemaker can help with some heart complications. There are no vaccines or medicines to prevent Chagas disease. If you travel to areas where it occurs, you are at higher risk if you sleep outdoors or are staying in poor housing conditions. It is important to use insecticides to prevent bites and practice food safety. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Chagas disease is infection with Trypanosoma cruzi, transmitted by Triatominae bug bites or, less commonly, via ingestion of sugar cane juice or foods contaminated with infected Triatominae bugs or their feces, transplacentally from an infected mother to her fetus, or via blood transfusion or an organ transplant from an infected donor....

Chagas (CHAH-gus) disease is an inflammatory, infectious disease caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which is found in the feces of the triatomine (reduviid) bug. Chagas disease is common in South America, Central America and Mexico, the primary home of the triatomine bug. Rare cases of Chagas disease have been found in the...

Chagas disease is caused by the parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi. The triatomine bug, which can carry the parasite, most often bites a person's face and therefore is more commonly known as the "kissing bug". When a triatomine bug infected with Trypanosoma cruzi bites, it can leave behind infected waste which can be spread into the person's...

Chagas disease, or American trypanosomiasis, is an anthropozoonosis (a disease maintained by animals and transmitted from animals to humans) caused by the obligate intracellular flagellate protozoon Trypanosoma cruzi , which infects humans and other mammals.

Chagas disease, infection with the flagellate protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. It is transmitted to humans by bloodsucking reduviid bugs and is endemic in most rural areas of Central and South America. The disease is most often transmitted by contact with the feces of infected insects, commonly through...