Important Facts For Prelims
World Chagas Disease Day
- 17 Apr 2023
- 3 min read
Why in News?
The World Health Organisation (WHO) observes World Chagas Disease Day every April 14th to raise awareness about the little-known disease that affects millions of people, especially in Latin America.
- The 72nd World Health Assembly dedicated this day to the disease in 2019.
- This year’s theme is “time to integrate Chagas disease into primary health care”.
What is Chagas Disease?
- About:
- Chagas disease, also known as "silent or silenced disease", is a communicable parasitic disease that infects 6-7 million people and claims around 12,000 lives every year worldwide, according to WHO.
- The disease is named after physician Carlos Chagas who first detected it in a Brazilian child in 1909.
- Chagas disease, also known as "silent or silenced disease", is a communicable parasitic disease that infects 6-7 million people and claims around 12,000 lives every year worldwide, according to WHO.
- Causes:
- It is caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, transmitted by a family of bugs called ‘triatomines’ or ‘kissing bugs’ that infect healthy individuals through bites or defecation.
- It can also be contracted through congenital transmission, blood transfusions, organ transplantation, consumption of uncooked food contaminated with fecal matter of infected bugs, or accidental laboratory exposure.
- It cannot propagate by casual contact with infected humans or animals.
- Symptoms:
- The disease manifests as fever, headaches, rashes, inflammatory nodules, nausea or diarrhea, and muscle or abdominal pain. 4
- 70-80% of patients show no symptoms throughout their lives, making early detection challenging.
- 20-30% of infections evolve into the chronic stage, causing damage to the heart, digestive system, or nervous system.
- The disease manifests as fever, headaches, rashes, inflammatory nodules, nausea or diarrhea, and muscle or abdominal pain. 4
- Prevalence:
- Chagas is currently endemic in 21 countries in the Americas, with an annual average incidence of 30,000 new cases, according to the Pan-American Health Organization.
- Rare cases have been reported in the southern United States as well as many European, Eastern Mediterranean, and Western Pacific countries.
- Chagas is currently endemic in 21 countries in the Americas, with an annual average incidence of 30,000 new cases, according to the Pan-American Health Organization.
- Treatment and Prevention:
- There are currently no vaccines available for Chagas disease, but antiparasitic medicines Benznidazole and Nifurtimox can treat the disease. They have a 100% efficacy rate if administered at the onset of the acute stage.
- Preventive measures have been put in place by countries to eliminate the bugs or reduce infections.
- Universal screening of blood donors and blood products is done by all Latin American countries and other countries reporting new cases.
