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Chagas Disease

Chagas Disease

HOW IS IT CAUSED? Chagas disease is caused by a parasite within an insect. The insects or beetles called “kissing bugs,” live in the cracks and walls of mud and straw houses. Mud and straw houses are common in poorer areas in the cities and in rural communities in many South American countries. The bug carrying the parasite lives in the cracks of these structures. At night, the bugs bite and also leave their excrement near the bite site. That is how the parasite is released that can get into peoples’ bodies and infect them. WHO GETS IT? It is estimated that 11 million people have Chagas. and about 50,000 people each year will die from Chagas. Most of these people live in Central and South America. Surprisingly, nine cases of Chagas were reported in the southern United States last year, causing the Center for Disease Control to have one of its departments focus on it. It is hard to diagnose Chagas disease. It may first feel like the...

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Chagas: The Facts

Chagas: The Facts

Chagas is a parasitic disease transmitted by insects. It is most prevalent in Latin  America. The beetles that transmit Chagas live in cracks in the walls of mud and straw housing, which are common in rural areas and urban slums.  It affects an estimated 16-18 million people and claims 50,000 lives annually. Symptoms:  There are often no apparent symptoms after infection, with the exception of a  short- lived flu-like reaction. The disease is progressive and after 10 to 20 years, thirty percent of those infected will develop permanent and often irreversible damage to the heart, esophagus, and colon. Diagnosis and Treatment:  Diagnosis is difficult because of lack of symptoms and often requires several blood tests to confirm the presence of the disease.  Two drugs are available, but are expensive. Treatment for a child under 15 is around $40. The drugs are not as effective, though, when the disease reaches its chronic,often fatal, state because of cardiac and digestive complications. Research is on-going for both diagnosis and treatment. Prevention:  Treating...

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KFWH Enters South America for the Treatment of Chagas Disease!

KFWH Enters South America for the Treatment of Chagas Disease!

Click to view CDC PDF (printable images) Chagas in Bolivia (Hit Cancel to stop printing) The above  slide presentation is  a series of photos taken by workers from CDC in Camiri, Bolivia where KFWH is working on the treatment of Chagas.  Notice the cracks in the mud houses where the beetle vector may enter at night. Click off the “print” page, and the beginning of the slide show will be appear. Below the photo of the map, you will find arrows to lead you through the pages. In 2012, the Kids for World Health Policy Board voted to expand its outreach to Bolivia after a meeting with the Neglected Diseases Department of the Center for Disease Control ( CDC) in Atlanta, GA. Coordinating with doctoral program researchers, Dr. Eva Clark, Lauren Pring and Dr. Gerson Galdos of The Johns Hopkins School of Public Health based in Santa Cruz, a program to provide introducers  and leads for pacemakers was created and implemented. At late stages,  Chagas Disease damages the intestinal...

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