‘Kissing Bug’ Disease On The Rise: What Is It?

Never heard of kissing bugs? Well, a recent report from the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention is sounding the alarm about the rising prevalence of the biting insects in the United States and the potentially deadly disease they spread.

Experts say Chagas disease should be declared endemic in the U.S. because it is now a constant occurrence. The disease is caused by a parasite spread in the droppings of infected triatomine insects, commonly known as kissing bugs.

Chagas disease is not spread person to person, but it can spread through contaminated blood, organs, food and pregnancy.

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Kissing bugs got their name because they usually bite people in the face and around the mouth area at night while they’re asleep.

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The bugs were once mostly found in the tropics, but with climate change causing warmer temperatures around the globe, the blood-sucking insects are now more prevalent in the United States.

The CDC report says kissing bugs have been found in 32 states, mostly in the South. Chagas disease has been found in pets like cats and dogs, as well zoo and wild animals in 17 states.

Human cases have been confirmed in eight states: Texas, California, Arizona, Tennessee, Louisiana, Missouri, Mississippi and Arkansas.

However, experts point out that because the disease is not well known and doctors aren’t looking for it, cases are likely significantly higher. The nature of the disease also contributes to the unknown number of infections.

The immediate symptoms of Chagas disease can include:

• Fever
• Fatigue
• Body Aches
• Rash
• Eyelid Swelling
• Diarrhea
• Loss Of Appetite

But the infection can linger for years, and many people will not show any of those symptoms. About 20% to 30% of those who get the disease will develop much more serious problems like an enlarged heart, colon or esophagus, heart failure and even death.

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When it’s caught early, Chagas disease can be treated with two types of antiparastic medication. The infection is usually confirmed with a blood test.

The experts behind the new CDC study say although the number of cases in the United States has not reached the high levels in some regions of Latin America, labeling the problem an endemic would pave the way for more research and improving diagnosis and prevention.