American trypanosomiasis, often known as Chagas disease, is a potentially fatal parasitic infection that is caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. The illness is most frequent in Central and South America, Trinidad, and the United States’ southern states. It is, however, less prevalent beyond the rural settings where vectors are abundant in rustic houses.
The vector-borne illness is transmitted vertically between the mother and the fetus or by contact with infected feces or urine of the reduviid insect (triatomine bug, kissing bug), which acts as an intermediary host for the parasite. Other means of transmission include blood transfusion, transplantation of an infected organ, and ingestion of contaminated food or beverages. Cardiomegaly, gastrointestinal problems, and, in rare cases, peripheral neuropathy are major sequelae of this condition.
