Emiliana Rodriguez can clearly recalls watching her friends play soccer in the moonlight as a child. But one terrible event altered her memory of the evening irrevocably. One of the players unexpectedly passed away while the game was still going strong.
Little Emiliana was gripped by fear but had no idea why. She had heard tales of a terrifying being known as Chagas, a “monster” that only materialized at night.
Despite moving to Barcelona 27 years ago, Emiliana, a native of Bolivia, still struggles with her fear of contracting Chagas disease. She describes the illness as a relentless “monster” that lingers in the recesses of her mind; she experienced sleepless nights as a result of her constant anxiety about falling victim to the silent killer.
While eight years ago expecting her first child, she learned she was a Chagas disease carrier, which made her anxiety worse. She was paralyzed with worry over the welfare of her infant, which brought back the memory of her friend’s unexpected death.
Rodriguez fortunately sought medical attention to avoid the parasite infecting her unborn child via the placenta. A ray of hope was provided amidst the despair when the tests revealed that her daughter was not infected.
Elvira Idalia Hernández Cuevas, a Mexican mother with a daughter who is 18 years old, was not as fortunate. She met Chagas when she gave blood in her neighborhood near Veracruz out of a sense of duty.
She had never even heard of Chagas before the disease snuck into her life. In a state of shock, she searched online for information, only to be horrified to learn the disease was silent and fatal.
Hernández’s situation is not unusual. Numerous people continue to be unaware that these annoying insects can transmit such a severe disease. The discovery of Chagas disease was made in 1909 by a Brazilian physician named Carlos Ribeiro Justiniano Chagas.
The Americas, Europe, Asia, and Oceania are now included in the geographic range of Chagas disease, which has grown since then. Triatomine bugs, also referred to as kissing bugs, come out of hiding at night and swarm low-income houses in rural or suburban areas in search of unwitting victims to feed on.
The likelihood of the victim scratching the area rises when an infected bug bites them and then urinates on their skin. The likelihood of the bug’s droppings getting into the body through cuts or open skin sores increases as a result of this behavior.
According to the World Health Organization, the disease affects 6–7 million people worldwide, the majority of whom live in South America, Central America, and Mexico.
More than 12,000 people in Latin America die from this deadly infection each year, outnumbering deaths from any other parasitic disease, including malaria. It can go untreated for the entirety of a person’s lifetime.
Despite infecting close to 300,000 people in the US, the Chagas disease is still a relatively localized disease. However, even among those who do not show symptoms, 20–30% may experience heart problems or gastrointestinal discomfort decades after the initial infection.
Only 10% of cases are diagnosed globally, which makes treatment and prevention challenges even more difficult.
Hernández and her daughter set out on a journey, seeking help from numerous medical professionals who were equally ignorant of Chagas disease and its treatment; the lack of knowledge and ambiguity surrounding the illness only made their suffering worse.
Idalia didn’t get the assistance she required until she contacted a relative who works in the medical industry. Hernández vehemently disputes the government’s claim that Chagas is under control in Mexico, which downplays the disease’s prevalence.
She claims that due to a lack of training, medical professionals frequently confuse Chagas disease with other cardiac conditions. Sadly, the majority of Mexicans are still unaware of Chagas.
Regarding global health policy, the World Health Organization classifies Chagas disease as one of the neglected tropical diseases. The disease is often ignored because of its sneaky nature and protracted hiding inside the body.
Chagas disease is still largely unknown due to biological and social factors, according to Colin Forsyth, research manager at the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi).
Additionally, as the disease spreads to other continents, it has recently been discovered that blood transfusions and organ transplants can allow mothers to pass the disease on to their unborn children during pregnancy or childbirth.
To combat Chagas disease and promote testing and treatment, Professor David Moore founded the Chagas Hub. Moore works as a doctor at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases in London with the goal of reducing the risk of transmission, especially from mother to child, and making sure that more people get the care they need.
He is still dubious about the WHO’s ambition to end the disease by 2030, though, given how slowly things have advanced.
The over 50-year-old, toxic, unpleasant, and only partially effective treatments for Chagas disease, such as nifurtimox and benznidazole, are still in use today.
Although the effectiveness of these drugs in newborns is unknown, they may be able to stop or slow the progression of the disease in adults.
The worst symptoms Rodriguez experienced were allergic rashes, lightheadedness, and nausea. Since her treatment is over, she only needs yearly checkups now.
To stop the spread of Chagas disease, more potent treatments must be created. To invest resources in developing such medications, however, pharmaceutical companies need to make more money.
Hernández wants to spread awareness about the disease and push for the creation of more potent treatments in his capacity as president of the International Federation of Associations of People Affected by Chagas Disease (FINDECHAGAS).
Now a resident of Spain, Emiliana Rodriguez works closely with the Barcelona Institute for Global Health to raise awareness of Chagas disease.
She is determined not to let the disease be shrouded in silence and wants to start a dialogue that will inspire people to get tested and receive care. Thankfully, people are starting to listen more and more.
The World Health Organization declared April 14 to be World Chagas Disease Day in honor of Carlos Chagas’ groundbreaking discovery in 1909.
The ongoing fight against Chagas disease and other neglected tropical diseases is brought to light on this day. For the year 2030, the WHO has set global goals and benchmarks for the prevention, control, eradication, and eradication of a number of conditions, including Chagas.
In order to prevent triatomine bug infestations, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend a number of preventative measures.
These include keeping the home clean, keeping cracks and crevices between floors, walls, ceilings, and doors sealed, clearing the area of any clutter, mending damaged window and door screens, sealing off entrances to the outside, basement, attic, and other parts of the house, allowing pets to sleep indoors, and checking for pests on a regular basis in both indoor and outdoor areas where pets spend time.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advise against killing kissing bugs if you come across them. As an alternative, delicately place the bug in a bottle of rubbing alcohol or freeze it in water. Bring the insect, still inside its container, to a lab at a university or a medical facility for identification.
It is unsettling to think that these insects might be living inside the walls of our houses; it makes one think of stories from when they were young about “monsters in the walls.”. The WHO has pledged to eradicate Chagas disease as well as other neglected tropical diseases, so we must accept that it exists and work toward that goal.
Please spread the word about this story to others to aid in the fight against this disease. We can combat Chagas disease and change the world if we work together.
