Chagas Disease

Coutii Healthy - Chagas disease (American trypanosomiasis) is an infectious disease caused by the parasite Trypanosoma Cruzi (t. Cruzi), which propagated through the triatomine bug bites (kissing bugs). Chagas disease can attack anyone, but particularly vulnerable children, especially those who live in parts of Mexico, Central America, and South America.

In General, the triatomine insects living in a straw, mud, or cracks of buildings made of bricks. These insects are usually hiding along during the day and come out at night, especially for sucking human blood that was already asleep. After feeding, the insect triatomine will usually direct throw shit. Dirt containing the parasite t. Cruzi can be entered into the human body via eyes, mouth, or open cuts on the skin. After entry into the body through the skin, the parasite t. Cruzi and then breed and spread.

Not only via the triatomine bug bites, a person can also be infected with t. Cruzi parasite when he consumes raw foods or foods that are contaminated by the parasites, received a blood transfusion or an organ from a donor who is already infected, born of infected mothers, approaching wild animals or pets that are already infected by the parasite, or working in the lab with the risk of parasitic insects that carry be bitten dangerous. The risk of contracting Chagas disease also increase if a person resides in a remote or traveling to areas with exposure to the parasite t. Cruzi.

The Symptoms Of Chagas Disease

Symptoms chagas disease vary widely, ranging from a possible sudden (acute) or are chronically (chronic). The degree of severity of symptoms vary from show no symptoms at all, the symptoms are mild, to severe. In the early stages, the sufferer may experience a series of mild symptoms such as:

• Swelling or rash on the bitten
• Fever
• Feeling tired and pains on the body
• Swollen eyelids
• Headache
• Decreased appetite
• Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Liver or spleen widens
• Difficulty breathing
• Pain in the abdomen or chest

In General, this mild symptoms will be felt for a few weeks or months, and it will disappear by itself. Nevertheless, it is strongly recommended to see a doctor if the symptoms of Chagas disease to feel new or returning from countries with exposure pasarit t. Cruzi is high so it can be quickly dealt with. Slow handling will probably lead to sufferers experience more chronic and difficult to recover. Some of the symptoms that is included in the category are chronic irregular heartbeat, difficulty swallowing due to the esophagus to swell, pain in the abdomen or constipation due to the widening in the colon, and heart failure. This disease can also lead to sudden death due to damage to the nervous system and heart muscle.

Diagnosis Of Chagas Disease

At an early stage, the doctor will usually perform a physical examination and ask a few questions related symptoms being experienced, medical history, treatment is being done, and the places visited before symptoms appear.  If the suspected presence of symptoms of Chagas disease, your doctor will probably suggest doing a blood test in order to see the presence of the parasite t. Cruzi in the body and the power of the immune system to fight off the parasites. In addition, the doctor may also suggest a number of other tests as a supporter of the diagnosis, such as:

• An electrocardiogram. Tests commonly abbreviated ECG is performed to check the electrical activity of the heart.
• X-rays on his chest and stomach. The doctor may do a second x-ray is to see clearly the conditions of the heart, stomach, and intestines.
• An Echocardiogram. This test is recommended that regular doctor can record heart activity by using sound waves to see if there are changes in heart function.
• Endoscopy. If the doctor feels there is kejangalan on the part of the esophagus, the doctor will likely perform a test of the endoscope with a thin pipe from entering the mouth so that it can be seen clearly.

The Treatment Of Chagas Disease

Not all sufferers of chagas disease can be cured. For those still having the early symptoms, the doctor will probably prescribe some medications that are being taken to relieve and kill the parasite t. Cruzi as benznidazole and nifurtimox. Both of these drugs are believed to be highly effective against the parasite t. Cruzi for sufferers who experience symptoms. Longer a parasite that settles in the body, treatment is more difficult.
When already entered the stage of chronic Chagas disease cannot be treated entirely. For sufferers who are still aged under fifty years of age, treatment can be given for the purpose of slowing down the severity of the disease and reduce the risk of complications-complications very seriously.

Chagas Disease Complications

Possible complications can occur for sufferers who have entered the stage of chronic symptoms. Possible complications are heart failure, enlargement of the esophagus (megaesofagus), and an enlarged colon (megakolon). Up to now, some solutions to help mitigate such complications have been applied. An example is the installation of pacemakers, surgery, or transplant for heart complications, and the setting pattern of eating, administering medication kortikostreoid, as well as operations to cope with the complications of digestion.

Prevention Of Chagas Disease

Up to now, there has been no specific vaccine to prevent Chagas disease. However, there are several ways that we can do to minimize the risk of the parasite t. Cruzi terlular as the cause, namely:

• Spray the inside and around the House with insecticide.
• Don't live in muddy areas, filled with straw huts, or at home for a long time.
• Put up mosquito nets in bed.
• Using lotion the anti mosquitos.
• Maintain the cleanliness of food and its storage.
• Check out the blood, organs, cells, and tissue donors before ditransfusi.
• Do uterine examination on a regular basis (for a woman not to transmit this disease in children).

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