What is Chagas disease?

Most of us may not have heard about Chagas disease. But about six to seven million people worldwide, mostly in Latin America, are estimated to be infected every year by this disease. Chagas disease, also known as American trypanosomiasis, is a potentially life-threatening illness caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. It is named after Carlos Ribeiro Justiniano Chagas, a Brazilian physician and researcher who discovered the disease in 1909. It is known as a silent disease because it can live quietly in the body until the late stages when it may cause fatal cardiac damage.

In recent decades, a number of Chagas cases have been detected in the United States and Canada, in many European African countries. Since this disease can be transmitted through blood transfusion and consumption of food or beverages contaminated with T. cruzi, it can spread out throughout the world. So, we should be aware of this disease.

Chagas disease can be treated with medicines that kill the parasite, which are 100 per cent effective if given soon after infection. Depending on the geographical location, the World Health Organization (WHO) also recommends prevention and control measures such as spraying homes and surrounding areas with residual insecticides, using bed nets, promoting good hygiene practices in food preparation and storage, and screening blood donors.

Ashikujaman Syed,

Research Assistant,

Bioinformatics Research Lab,

Center for Research Innovation and Development (CRID),

syedashikujaman@yahoo.com