What is the kissing bug disease?
Chagas (CHAH-gus) disease is an inflammatory, infectious disease caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. This parasite is found in the feces of the triatomine (reduviid) bug.
Which parasite is transmitted through kissing?
Related Links
| Disease* | Parasite | Insect (vector) |
|---|---|---|
| Babesiosis | Babesia microti and other species | Babesia microti: Ixodes (hard-bodied) ticks |
| Chagas disease | Trypanosoma cruzi | Triatomine (“kissing”) bugs |
| Leishmaniasis | Leishmania species | Phlebotomine sand flies |
| Malaria | Plasmodium species | Anopheles mosquitoes |
What are the symptoms of Chagas disease in humans?
What are the symptoms of Chagas disease?
- Mild, flu-like symptoms, such as fever, fatigue, body aches, and headaches.
- Rash.
- Loss of appetite.
- Diarrhea.
- Vomiting.
- Swelling or a sore near the eye or on the side of the face where the bite or infection occurred (visible in fewer than half of infected people)
- Enlarged glands.
How is Chagas disease transmitted to humans?
When people become infected by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, they can get Chagas disease. The feces of insects called triatomine, or “kissing” bugs, transmits the parasite to humans. These bugs feed on the blood of animals and humans at night, and then they defecate.
Is kissing bug disease contagious?
Is Chagas disease contagious? Chagas disease is not considered contagious from person to person; the parasite almost always requires a vector like the triatomine bug to transfer the parasite (T. cruzi) to humans.
Do all kissing bugs carry disease?
Not every kissing bug carries the parasite. And even if you are bitten by an infected bug, odds are you still won’t be infected. That’s because the bite itself doesn’t transmit the disease.
What diseases can be passed through saliva?
Here are a few other illnesses which can work their way from your saliva into your nose, throat and lungs:
- Rhinovirus (colds)
- Flu virus.
- Epstein-Barr virus (mononucleosis, or mono)
- Type 1 herpes (cold sores)
- Strep bacteria.
- Hepatitis B and hepatitis C.
- Cytomegalovirus (a risk for babies in the womb)
How long can a person live with Chagas disease?
acute, with mild or no symptoms that may last weeks to about two months; intermediate or indeterminate phase that has few if any symptoms and may last 10-20 years or longer; and.
How do you know if you’ve been bitten by a kissing bug?
Bite Marks Kissing bugs are so named because they like to bite around the mouth or eyes. You’ll often see 2-15 bite marks in one area and maybe redness and swelling. It might be hard to tell them apart from other bug bites, minor skin irritations, or infections.
Can you pass parasites through kissing?
People can spread the Giardia parasite even if they do not have symptoms. ➢ Pets can also be infected and can spread Giardia to you through their feces. ➢ Giardia is NOT spread from one person to another by coughing or sneezing, sharing drinks, hugging or kissing.
Do all kissing bugs carry Chagas disease?
Kissing bugs can carry the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which can cause Chagas disease. It’s important to know that not all kissing bugs are infected with the parasite, and the likelihood of contracting Chagas disease is low.
Are there any infectious diseases that can be spread through kissing?
Infectious Diseases From Mouth Sores. Certain infections causing ulcerations in the mouth can also be spread through kissing. These include cold sores and hand, foot, and mouth disease.
Why is Mono called the ” kissing disease “?
Ah, the so-called “kissing disease”! It definitely deserves its nickname, because mono is caused by a virus that is easily transmitted through kissing, according to Mayo Clinic. One of its trademark signs is intense fatigue, although others include a sore throat and swollen lymph nodes.
Can a Zika virus be passed through kissing?
You may have heard that it can be passed through kissing. Zika is on the tip of everyone’s tongue right now, primarily because it can cause microcephaly, a birth defect marked by an abnormally small head and brain. Now, researchers are tasked with determining all the ways the virus can spread, including sexually. And yes, that may include saliva.
Is it possible to get a cold from a kiss?
Here, doctors explain how to stay safe. If life were fair, it would be impossible to catch anything remotely bad from a kiss. But in addition to things like the common cold and the flu (seriously, get vaccinated, people), it is actually possible to contract various illnesses from a make-out session.