Emiliana Rodriguez vividly remembers her childhood, watching her friends play soccer under the moonlit sky. However, one tragic incident forever changed her perception of the night. As the game was in full swing, one of the players suddenly passed away.
Little Emiliana, unaware of the cause, was overwhelmed with fear. She had heard stories of a sinister creature called Chagas, a “monster” that emerged only at night.
Emiliana, originally from Bolivia, moved to Barcelona 27 years ago, yet the fear of Chagas still haunts her. She describes the disease as a relentless “monster” that lingers in the shadows of her mind—sleepless nights plagued her as she constantly worried about succumbing to the silent killer.
Her anxiety intensified when she discovered she was a carrier of Chagas disease while expecting her first child eight years ago. The fear of her baby’s well-being consumed her, drawing her back to the memory of her friend’s sudden passing.
Fortunately, Rodriguez sought medical treatment to prevent the parasite from infecting her unborn child through the placenta. The tests showed that her daughter did not carry the disease, offering a glimmer of hope amid the darkness.
However, Elvira Idalia Hernández Cuevas, a mother from Mexico with an 18-year-old daughter, was not as fortunate. Her encounter with Chagas occurred when she selflessly donated blood in her community near Veracruz.
The disease stealthily entered her life, and she had never even heard of Chagas until then. She turned to the internet in a state of shock in search of information, only to discover the disease’s silent and lethal nature, which horrified her.
Hernández’s experience is not unique. Countless individuals remain oblivious that these bothersome insects can carry such a devastating illness. The first recorded case of Chagas disease dates back to 1909 when Brazilian physician Carlos Ribeiro Justiniano Chagas made the discovery.
Since then, the geographic range of Chagas disease has expanded, encompassing the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Oceania. Kissing bugs, also known as triatomine bugs, emerge from their hiding places in the low-income homes of rural or suburban areas during the night, seeking blood meals from unsuspecting victims.
When an infected bug bites a person or animal and subsequently urinates on the skin, the likelihood of the victim scratching the area increases. This behavior raises the risk of the bug’s feces entering the body through cuts or open sores on the skin.
The World Health Organization estimates that between 6 and 7 million people worldwide are affected by Chagas disease, with the majority residing in South America, Central America, and Mexico.
This lethal infection can persist untreated throughout a person’s lifetime and claims the lives of over 12,000 people in Latin America each year, surpassing the toll of any other parasitic disease, including malaria.
While Chagas disease has infected nearly 300,000 people in the United States, it remains relatively localized. However, even among those who do not exhibit symptoms, 20–30% may suffer from gastrointestinal discomfort or potentially fatal heart problems decades after the initial infection.
Treatment and prevention challenges are further exacerbated by a global diagnosis rate of a mere 10%.
Hernández and her daughter embarked on a journey, seeking assistance from multiple doctors who were equally unfamiliar with Chagas disease and its treatment—the lack of awareness and confusion surrounding the illness added to their anguish.
It was only when Idalia reached out to a relative working in the medical field that she finally obtained the help she needed. In Mexico, the authorities downplay the prevalence of Chagas, claiming it is under control, but Hernández vehemently disputes this.
She asserts that medical professionals lack proper training, often mistaking Chagas for other cardiac conditions. Unfortunately, Chagas remains largely unknown to the general population of Mexico.
Chagas disease falls under the World Health Organization’s category of neglected tropical diseases in terms of global health policy. Its insidious nature, hidden within the body for an extended period, contributes to the disease’s neglect.
Colin Forsyth, a research manager at the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi), explains that Chagas remains shrouded in secrecy due to biological and social factors.
Furthermore, recent discoveries have revealed that Chagas disease can be transmitted from mother to child during pregnancy or childbirth through blood transfusions and organ transplants, as it spreads to other continents.
Professor David Moore established the Chagas Hub to combat Chagas disease and increase testing and treatment. As a physician at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in London, Moore aims to manage the risk of transmission, particularly from mother to child, and ensure that more people receive the necessary care.
However, he remains skeptical about the WHO’s goal of eradicating the disease by 2030, as progress has been slow.
The available treatments for Chagas disease, such as nifurtimox and benznidazole, are over 50 years old and have proven toxic, unpleasant, and only partially effective.
While these medications may halt or slow down the progression of the disease in adults, their efficacy in newborns is uncertain.
Rodriguez experienced allergic rashes, dizziness, and nausea as the worst symptoms of her disease. Now that her treatment is complete, she requires only yearly checkups.
It is imperative to develop more effective treatments to halt the spread of Chagas disease. However, pharmaceutical companies need more profit to invest resources into creating such medications.
Hernández, as the president of the International Federation of Associations of People Affected by Chagas Disease (FINDECHAGAS), aims to raise awareness and advocate for developing more effective cures.
Emiliana Rodriguez, now residing in Spain, actively collaborates with the Barcelona Institute for Global Health to increase public awareness of Chagas disease.
She refuses to succumb to the silence surrounding the disease and hopes to ignite conversations and encourage people to seek testing and care. Fortunately, more and more individuals are beginning to listen.
In recognition of Carlos Chagas’ groundbreaking discovery in 1909, the World Health Organization designated April 14 as World Chagas Disease Day.
This day serves as a reminder of the ongoing battle against Chagas and other neglected tropical diseases. The WHO has set global targets and milestones for 2030 to prevent, control, eliminate, and eradicate various conditions, including Chagas.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offer several preventive measures to avoid triatomine bug infestations.
These include sealing cracks and crevices between floors, walls, ceilings, and doors, removing debris from the surrounding area, repairing broken window and door screens, sealing off entrances to the outside, basement, attic, and other areas of the home, allowing pets to sleep indoors, maintaining cleanliness, and regularly checking for pests in both indoor and outdoor spaces where pets spend time.
If you encounter a kissing bug, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advise against killing it. Instead, carefully place the bug in a container filled with rubbing alcohol or freeze it in water. Transport the insect, still in its container, to a university laboratory or a health organization for identification.
The notion that these insects could be living inside the walls of our homes is unsettling, reminiscent of childhood tales about “monsters in the walls.” However, we must face the reality of Chagas disease and work toward the WHO’s commitment to its eradication, along with other neglected tropical diseases.
Please help raise awareness of this disease by sharing this story with others. Together, we can make a difference and contribute to the fight against Chagas disease.
