Chagas Disease (CD) or American Trypanosomiasis: A Silent Killer: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Chagas disease was named after Carlos Ribeiro Justiniano Chagas, a Brazilian physician and researcher who
discovered the disease in 1909. Chagas (CHAH-gus) disease is an illness caused infection with the parasite
Trypanosoma cruzi. The parasite is found in the feces of the triatomine bug. These bugs also are called reduviid.
They may also be known as “kissing bugs” because they tend to bite people’s faces. An estimated 10,000 people
die every year from clinical manifestations or complications of Chagas disease, and about 75 million people
are at risk of acquiring the disease. Chagas disease imposes a heavy and long burden on families, communities,
health systems, economy, etc. To beat Chagas disease, it is crucial to achieve universal health coverage, starting
at primary care level. Chagas disease is a complex socio-economic, environmental health problem and the lack
of understanding Chagas as a multidimensional challenge led to fragmented approaches and contributed to its
neglected condition. In many countries, there are low detection rates (<10%, frequently <1%) and frequent
barriers to access adequate healthcare. Chagas disease is common in South America, Central America and
Mexico. Rarely, Chagas disease has been found in the southern United States. Chagas disease can infect anyone.
Untreated, Chagas disease can cause serious heart and digestive problems. During the first phase of infection,
treatment of Chagas disease aims to kill the parasite. Later not possible to kill the parasite. Treatment mainly
focuses on managing symptoms only because accurate treatment is not yet available. But there also are few
ways to prevent infection effectively such as vector control, early detection etc. There is no vaccine and no
proper treatment protocol is not available for this disease at present scenario. The World Chagas Day is observed
every year on 14th April to create awareness among public/peoples.