Are kissing bugs harmful to humans?
Kissing bugs can transmit a parasite that leads to a potentially serious illness called Chagas disease. Most cases of Chagas disease occur in Latin America. Although infection directly from exposure to the kissing bug is rare in the US, it is still important to take steps to prevent kissing bug bites.
Do all kissing bugs carry Chagas disease?
Some triatomines carry in their feces a parasite called Trypanosoma cruzi, which causes Chagas disease. That ailment can have serious long-term health consequences if untreated. Experts stress, however, that the risk of Chagas infection remains low. Not every kissing bug carries the parasite.
What happens if you touch a kissing bug?
The skin near the bite might become red, swollen, and itchy. The most serious risk is anaphylactic shock. That’s when your blood pressure drops and you have trouble breathing. It can be deadly if you don’t get emergency treatment.
Is Chagas disease fatal?
Chagas disease (T. cruzi infection) is also referred to as American trypanosomiasis. It is estimated that as many as 8 million people in Mexico, Central America, and South America have Chagas disease, most of whom do not know they are infected. If untreated, infection is lifelong and can be life threatening.
How do you tell if a bug is a kissing bug?
They are pear-shaped and dark brown to black in body color, often with distinct, reddish- to cream-colored stripes visible along the edges of the abdomen (tail). There are no markings on the wings, although some kissing bugs may show some orange at the base of the wings, next to the shield behind the head.
What to do if you get bitten by a kissing bug?
You can:
- Wash the bites with soap to lower the chance of infection.
- Use calamine lotion or an anti-itch cream to stop the itching. You can also hold an oatmeal-soaked washcloth on the itchy area for 15 minutes.
- Use an ice pack to stop the swelling.
- See your doctor if you think the bite may be infected.
How fatal is Chagas disease?
It is estimated that as many as 8 million people in Mexico, Central America, and South America have Chagas disease, most of whom do not know they are infected. If untreated, infection is lifelong and can be life threatening.
Can you be cured of Chagas disease?
Treatment. To kill the parasite, Chagas disease can be treated with benznidazole or nifurtimox. Both medicines are nearly 100% effective in curing the disease if given soon after infection at the onset of the acute phase, including the cases of congenital transmission.