Chagas Disease: What you need to know
12-07-2015
Author: Blog Editor in RV Tips & Education
By Stephanie A. Mayberry
There has been a lot in the news lately about a “kissing bug” and Chagas disease – some of it downright horrifying. So, just what is this disease? What exactly are these bugs? And how at risk are you? Since many RV campgrounds don’t really take any steps to eliminate insects in the area you need to know the facts. So, what’s the big deal about kissing bugs and Chagas disease?
I have some answers.
Chagas in the News
Several recent news stories have emerged to paint a bleak picture. Basically, if you don’t have symptoms you won’t know you have Chagas until you give blood. If you are having symptoms, you are in trouble. Stories in The New Yorker, The Smithsonian Magazine, and ABC News report that the disease, typically found in South and Central America is making its way into several states in North America. All this was prompted by several recent Chagas cases in Texas.
The incidence of the disease is still very low in the United States but experts are concerned that the insects that carry the parasite that causes Chagas are making their way north. Only about 30 percent of people who are bitten actually get Chagas, but those odds are still not the greatest. So let’s take a look at the little critter and his little parasitic friend.
The Kissing Bug
This little insect comes from a large family – or rather the subfamily of Reduviidae. They are also known as conenose bugs, wheel bugs, Mexican bedbugs, Triatomines, and the formidable “assassin bug.” They are blood suckers but prefer to stand next to their prey as opposed to standing on it. However, they get the name “kissing bug” because they prefer to feed off their victims by biting them around their mouth and eyes while they sleep.
The appearance of the kissing bug may vary from one species to the next, but basically they are elongated or oval in shape, about a half inch to one inch in length. They have six legs and antennae.
The parasite that causes Chagas is not passed through the bite of the Kissing but, rather through its feces. The insect will feed for about 8 to 15 minutes and become quite engorged with blood. When they defecate the parasite can be passed on to the host.
Keep the Kissing Bug from Kissing You
Kissing bugs are mostly nocturnal, preferring to hide during the day and feed at night. They feed on the blood of mammals, reptiles, and birds. Common hosts include opossums, raccoons, wood rate, and humans. Before they bite their victims they inject an anesthetizing agent through their saliva so that the host does not realize it is being bitten. They don’t bite through clothing, but will look for exposed skin on which to feed.
They will come into your home or RV, entering through windows left open, gaps around doors, tears in screens, or they may simply fly in during the night. Once inside the home they will typically hide during the day and emerge at night.
Have you been Kissed?
Many people who are bitten by kissing bugs never even know it. Some people are sensitive to the insect’s saliva, causing an allergic reaction. If you’ve been bitten you may notice redness, swelling, itching, and other signs of inflammation and allergic reaction.
Now, if you are freaking out about being bitten, relax. Kissing bugs are all over the U.S. and not all carry the parasite that causes Chagas. However, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) there are around 300,000 people in the U.S. who are infected with the parasite. Your best bet is to look for symptoms of infection which include swelling (usually around the eyelids or mouth), a rash at the site where the parasite entered the body, fever, headache, body aches, and fatigue.
If you find bites or see any kissing bugs you need to take steps to get rid of them, especially if they are in your RV. Check around your bed and in it, look under the mattress and in the nightstand. Also look around areas where pets sleep. This might be a time when you want to talk to a pest control professional. Best to take some aggressive steps to make sure they stay where they belong – outside of your RV and away from you.
For more information, you may find this Chagas Disease Fact Sheet useful.
There has been a lot in the news lately about a “kissing bug” and Chagas disease – some of it downright horrifying. So, just what is this disease? What exactly are these bugs? And how at risk are you? Since many RV campgrounds don’t really take any steps to eliminate insects in the area you need to know the facts. So, what’s the big deal about kissing bugs and Chagas disease?
I have some answers.
Chagas in the News
Several recent news stories have emerged to paint a bleak picture. Basically, if you don’t have symptoms you won’t know you have Chagas until you give blood. If you are having symptoms, you are in trouble. Stories in The New Yorker, The Smithsonian Magazine, and ABC News report that the disease, typically found in South and Central America is making its way into several states in North America. All this was prompted by several recent Chagas cases in Texas.
The incidence of the disease is still very low in the United States but experts are concerned that the insects that carry the parasite that causes Chagas are making their way north. Only about 30 percent of people who are bitten actually get Chagas, but those odds are still not the greatest. So let’s take a look at the little critter and his little parasitic friend.
The Kissing Bug
This little insect comes from a large family – or rather the subfamily of Reduviidae. They are also known as conenose bugs, wheel bugs, Mexican bedbugs, Triatomines, and the formidable “assassin bug.” They are blood suckers but prefer to stand next to their prey as opposed to standing on it. However, they get the name “kissing bug” because they prefer to feed off their victims by biting them around their mouth and eyes while they sleep.
The appearance of the kissing bug may vary from one species to the next, but basically they are elongated or oval in shape, about a half inch to one inch in length. They have six legs and antennae.
The parasite that causes Chagas is not passed through the bite of the Kissing but, rather through its feces. The insect will feed for about 8 to 15 minutes and become quite engorged with blood. When they defecate the parasite can be passed on to the host.
Keep the Kissing Bug from Kissing You
Kissing bugs are mostly nocturnal, preferring to hide during the day and feed at night. They feed on the blood of mammals, reptiles, and birds. Common hosts include opossums, raccoons, wood rate, and humans. Before they bite their victims they inject an anesthetizing agent through their saliva so that the host does not realize it is being bitten. They don’t bite through clothing, but will look for exposed skin on which to feed.
They will come into your home or RV, entering through windows left open, gaps around doors, tears in screens, or they may simply fly in during the night. Once inside the home they will typically hide during the day and emerge at night.
Have you been Kissed?
Many people who are bitten by kissing bugs never even know it. Some people are sensitive to the insect’s saliva, causing an allergic reaction. If you’ve been bitten you may notice redness, swelling, itching, and other signs of inflammation and allergic reaction.
Now, if you are freaking out about being bitten, relax. Kissing bugs are all over the U.S. and not all carry the parasite that causes Chagas. However, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) there are around 300,000 people in the U.S. who are infected with the parasite. Your best bet is to look for symptoms of infection which include swelling (usually around the eyelids or mouth), a rash at the site where the parasite entered the body, fever, headache, body aches, and fatigue.
If you find bites or see any kissing bugs you need to take steps to get rid of them, especially if they are in your RV. Check around your bed and in it, look under the mattress and in the nightstand. Also look around areas where pets sleep. This might be a time when you want to talk to a pest control professional. Best to take some aggressive steps to make sure they stay where they belong – outside of your RV and away from you.
For more information, you may find this Chagas Disease Fact Sheet useful.
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