Full Answer
What is the deadly ‘kissing bug?
THE "kissing bug" harbors an extremely infectious disease often overlooked or unknown by Americans. So-called "kissing bugs" carry Chagas disease which can be life-threatening. Chagas disease is caused by the bite of a triatomine bug, also known as a 'kissing bug.' What is the deadly "kissing bug?"
What diseases do kissing bugs carry?
These bugs transmit a dangerous disease called Chagas. Chagas is transmitted through the feces of the kissing bug. Symptoms of the disease include diarrhea, rashes or hives, nausea, fainting, shortness of breath, and sometimes inflammation of the heart and kidneys.
How common is Chagas disease in kissing bugs?
About 55% of the kissing bugs are infected with the parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi, that causes Chagas disease. We hope this website will help you learn about Chagas disease and kissing bugs. If you are interested in more technical resources, visit our resource page. If you have questions, submit them to our team on this page.
How many kissing bugs are there?
In the United States, kissing bugs have been found in 29 states. All shaded states in the map have at least one kissing bug found there. Striped states are those from which we have received submissions to our Community Science Program.
What is the disease of the kissing bug?
So-called "kissing bugs" carry Chagas disease which can be life-threatening.
How many people are affected by Chagas disease?
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and it kills more than 10,000 people a year.
When was a syphilis discovered?
According to her studies, the disease was first discovered in 1909 by Brazilian physician Carlos Chagas.
What is the poisonous kissing bug?
Closeup of a poisonous "kissing bug," also called an "assassin bug," spreader of Chagas disease. Related Article Just how deadly is the kissing bug? “People with Chagas had a two to three times higher risk of dying.” said Dr. Ester Cerdeira Sabino, who co-led the study team at the Brazilian University.
Where are kissing bugs found?
The kissing bugs behind the disease have also been reported in 25 US states, with the largest concentration in the South.
What is the name of the disease that causes Chagas disease?
The parasite then enters the bloodstream and causes Chagas disease, also known as trypanosomiasis.
How many times can Chagas cause death?
In the study, published Thursday in the journal PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, infection with Chagas was found to increase risk of death by two to three times.
What is the nickname given to the insects that spread Chagas disease?
The nickname given to the insects that spread Chagas disease is somewhat bittersweet: kissing bugs.
How long does it take for a parasite to show symptoms?
Some patients experience acute, sudden symptoms during the first two months of infection, when parasite numbers in the blood are at their peak, including fever, fatigue, rash, diarrhea and occasionally swollen eyelids. But whether acute or chronic, the majority of people remain symptom-free.
What percentage of people infected with the kissing bug have gastrointestinal problems?
Approximately 20 to 30 percent of infected people develop cardiac or gastrointestinal complications. In “The Kissing Bug,” Hernández describes multiple gastrointestinal procedures her aunt endured.
Who is the kissing bug in Florida?
A kissing bug in Florida. Dr. Norman Beatty
Why is Chagas' disease silent?
In her book, Hernández calls Chagas' disease a silent disease due to its asymptomatic nature — but its meaning goes far beyond that.
How old is Carlos in Chagas?
In the book, Hernández tells the stories of mainly low-income, uninsured Chagas patients she meets. Forty-year-old Carlos has heart problems that have left him unable to work, though he tries to keep working amid outstanding medical bills. His story and others like it show that for many Hispanics, work ethic and financial stability often outweigh the focus on personal health.
Is the kissing bug ignored?
This deadly 'kissing bug' has been mostly ignored. It shouldn't be, this author says.
Is the kissing bug a true story?
Yet because the disease has primarily affected people in Latin America — many of them from poorer or rural areas — it hasn't been a big focus of medical attention, as Hernández found as she researched her highly praised, recently published book, “The Kissing Bug: A True Story of a Family, an Insect, and a Nation’s Neglect of a Deadly Disease.”
How many times are kissing bugs likelier to die?
Co-leader of the Brazilian University study team, Dr. Ester Cerdeira Sabino, said those infected by the bug’s bite were two to three times likelier to die than those uninfected. These insects must be identified as soon as possible because the kissing bug is more common than people know.
How big is a kissing bug?
Its size and markings can identify the kissing bug. It ranges in length from 3/4 inch to 1 1/4 inches. It also has a band around its body that is marked with red or orange stripes. Before the bug bites, it is flat. After biting, it becomes inflated with blood and takes on a spherical shape.
How to get rid of a bug that came in contact with your skin?
First, capture the bug by using a plastic bag or gloves to avoid any direct contact. Next, store it in a covered container or vial, and freeze it . Finally, clean the area the small insect came in contact with by using a bleach solution. If the insect comes in contact with skin, it may cause serious symptoms.
How long did the Chagas study last?
This study was conducted for 14 years. They found that more people died who had the Chagas disease than those who did not. They also learned that most of the people who died from the disease were not aware they were infected.
What happens when a kissing bug bites?
After biting, it becomes inflated with blood and takes on a spherical shape. Once the kissing bug bites, it transmits a parasite from its digestive system, which can ultimately lead to death for the victim of the bite. The parasite eats away at the heart tissues and eventually causes the heart to fail.
Why is it called the kissing bug?
It is called the kissing bug because it normally bites one around the eyes or nose. These insects harbor parasites and transmit them to a person through the bite. Since blood is the bug’s main food supply, the bites might not be noticed when they happen.
Where do kissing bugs live?
There are 11 species of kissing bugs found in the U.S. They are most commonly found in Arizona, Texas, and New Mexico. A research team collected blood from 8,500 donors to compare mortality rates between those infected and those not.
How long do kissing bugs live?
Kissing bugs feed on blood and are active mostly at night (nocturnal). Adult kissing bugs are about 1/2 to 1 inch long. Kissing bugs hatch from small eggs and go through five nymph stages before they become adults. Some kinds of kissing bugs can live up to two years.
Which state has the most kissing bugs?
Texas , New Mexico, and Arizona are the states with the most different species and most findings of kissing bugs. Scientists have found that about 50% of kissing bugs are infected with the Chagas parasite. Three species of kissing bugs that can be found in Texas.
What animals carry the T. cruzi parasite?
Kissing bugs get infected from feeding on infected wild animals, dogs, and people. In the US, wild animals that can carry the T. cruzi parasite are woodrats, raccoons, coyotes, opossums, and other mammals.
What is the parasite that causes Chagas disease?
A parasite called Trypanosoma cruzi causes Chagas disease. Chagas disease can occur in people, dogs, and other mammals. The Trypanosoma cruzi parasite is sometimes called T. cruzi. Kissing bugs can get the T. cruzi parasite from feeding on the blood of an animal or person infected with the parasite.
Why are kissing bugs considered a vector?
Kissing bugs are a 'vector' because they can carry a parasite that can make people and animal sick. The parasite is Trypanosoma cruzi, and it causes Chagas disease. The number of infected kissing bugs varies from location to location.
How many stages does a kissing bug have?
Kissing bugs hatch from small oval-shaped eggs. They have 5 nymphal stages before becoming adults. Males have rounded bottoms, and females have pointed ovipositors (for egg laying) on their bottoms.
How to keep kissing bugs away from my house?
Turn off outside lights at night if safe. Kissing bugs might fly towards lights and then crawl into a house. Keeping the lights off can keep the kissing bugs from coming near.
How many people in Mexico have Chagas disease?
It is estimated that as many as 8 million people in Mexico, Central America, and South America have Chagas disease, most of whom do not know they are infected. If untreated, infection is lifelong and can be life threatening. The impact of Chagas disease is not limited to only rural areas of Latin America in which vectorborne transmission ...
How do Chagas bugs get infected?
The insect vectors are called triatomine bugs. These blood-sucking bugs get infected with T. cruzi by biting an infected animal or person. Once infected, the bugs pass the parasites in their feces.
What is Chagas disease?
Chagas disease is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which is transmitted to animals and people by insect vectors that are found only in the Americas (mainly, in rural areas of Latin America where poverty is widespread). Chagas disease ( T. cruzi infection) is also referred to as American trypanosomiasis.
How to diagnose Chagas disease?
Chagas disease is diagnosed by blood tests. If you have Chagas disease, you should have a heart tracing test (electrocardiogram), even if you feel fine. You might be referred to a specialist for more tests and treatment.
What has increased the geographic distribution of Chagas disease?
Large-scale population movements from rural to urban areas of Latin America and to other regions of the world have increased the geographic distribution and changed the epidemiology of Chagas disease.
Where is Chagas disease found?
In what parts of the world is Chagas disease found? People who have Chagas disease can be found anywhere in the world. However, transmission of the disease by kissing bugs (vectorborne transmission), only occurs in the Americas. Most people with Chagas disease became infected in rural areas of Mexico, Central America, and South America.
What are the complications of gastrointestinal disease?
Gastrointestinal complications, which can include an enlarged esophagus (megaesophagus) or colon (megacolon) and can lead to difficulties with eating or pooping.
What is the disease of kissing bugs?
If feces containing this parasite get inside your body, you become infected. The infection is called Chagas disease . Kissing bugs are nocturnal. This means they come out at night to feed. Usually the person is sleeping, and the bite doesn’t hurt.
Why do people call kissing bugs?
Their insect name is triatomines, but people call them “kissing bugs” for a rather unpleasant reason — they tend to bite people on the face. Kissing bugs carry a parasite called Trypanosoma cruzi. They pick up this parasite by feeding on an infected person or animal. The parasite then lives in the kissing bug’s intestines and feces.
What does a kissing bug bite look like?
The bite looks like any other bug bite except there’s usually a cluster of bites together in one spot. People who are sensitive to the bug’s saliva, may experience a reaction to the bite. This is usually only mild itching, redness, and swelling, but occasionally, a kissing bug bite causes a severe allergic reaction.
How long does it take for a bug to bite?
Kissing bugs bite by injecting saliva that has an anesthetic property into the skin. It typically takes between 20 and 30 minutes for a bug to feed. The bug may bite anywhere from 2 to 15 times. Typically, the bug will bite a person on their face.
How to prevent kissing bugs?
These materials are often used to build homes in the endemic areas of Mexico, South America, and Latin America. If you visit these areas, try to avoid sleeping in structures made of these materials.
What happens if you are allergic to a kissing bug?
In rare cases, a person who’s allergic to the kissing bug’s saliva can have a severe allergic reaction after being bitten. This reaction is known as anaphylaxis.
Where is Chagas disease endemic?
Chagas disease is endemic to Mexico, Central America, and South America. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), up to eight million#N#Trusted Source#N#people in these areas have the infection.
What is the disease that kissing bugs transmit?
They tend to bite around the mouth and eye region on the face. These bugs transmit a dangerous disease called Chagas . Chagas is transmitted through the feces of the kissing bug. Symptoms of the disease include diarrhea, rashes or hives, nausea, fainting, shortness of breath, and sometimes inflammation of the heart and kidneys.
What do kissing bugs look like?
Kissing bugs have a cone-shaped head, thin, long antennae, and very long thin legs. The bugs are shaped like teardrops and have yellow or red stripes. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP. If you’ve been bitten by a kissing bug or any other kind of bug, make sure to clean the bite area with soap and water.
How to treat a kissing bug bite?
If you or your child are bitten by a kissing bug, disinfect the bite area with soap and water. Remember, the bite itself won’t lead to Chagas, but not washing the bite area might have repercussions. Use anti-itch cream or Calamine if the bite continues to itch. If it swells, apply ice to the area.
Can kissing bug bites cause allergic reactions?
Some people have deadly allergic reactions to kissing bug bites. If you start to struggle to breathe, see a doctor. If you think the bite is infected, or if you detect signs of Chagas, then see a doctor right away.
