Chagas: The ''Silent And Silenced'' Disease

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15 April 2024

The World Health Organization observed World Chagas Disease Day on April 14 to raise awareness about the neglected disease that affects millions, especially in Latin America

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It is a communicable parasitic disease that infects 6-7 million people and claims around 12,000 lives every year worldwide

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The disease has been named after Brazilian physician Carlos Chagas, who discovered it in 1909

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Chagas disease is primarily transmitted to humans through the faeces of infected triatomine bugs, also known as 'kissing bugs'

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Some experts said it also spreads through blood transfusion, organ transplant or contaminated food and beverages

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Chagas is often called 'silent and silenced disease' because most patients have no symptoms either during the acute or the chronic phases of infection

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Some of the symptoms are fever, fatigue, body aches and headaches, rash, loss of appetite, diarrhea, vomiting, swelling 

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In the first stage, there are mild, or no symptoms at all, and is difficult to diagnose

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The chronic stage can manifest years or even decades after the initial infection. During this phase, the parasite gets inside the patient's heart muscle

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It can then lead to abnormal heart rhythm and also cause trouble in eating or passing stool

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While the disease is prevalent among poor populations of continental Latin America, it is increasingly being detected in other countries and continents

Image: @WHO/X

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