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Case of deadly ‘kissing bug’ found in California - and sufferers may not even know they have it
Yahoo • • health
Key Points:
- San Diego County has reported its first locally acquired case of Chagas disease, marking the spread of the blood-sucking "kissing bug" (triatomines) to Southern California.
- Chagas disease, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi found in about 55% of US kissing bugs, can cause flu-like symptoms initially and lead to serious heart and gastrointestinal complications years later.
- The disease is typically endemic in Latin America but is increasingly being detected in the US, with an estimated 300,000 cases nationwide, mostly in the South, though kissing bugs are moving northward.
- Early-stage Chagas disease is treatable with antiparasitic drugs, but the chronic phase, which can cause life-threatening heart and digestive issues, has no cure and requires symptom management.
- Health officials urge residents and healthcare providers in San Diego to be aware of symptoms and seek medical advice promptly, as early diagnosis is critical but often missed, leading to severe health consequences.
