Imagine being frightened by the thoughtless murderer who waits to strike in the shadows. Emiliana Rodriguez and Elvira Idalia Hernández Cuevas experienced this as a terrifying reality. These two individuals are but two of the millions of victims of Chagas disease, a quiet, fatal ailment that is transmitted by nocturnal insects.
The 42-year-old Rodriguez, who immigrated to Barcelona from Bolivia, recalls very clearly the terror that gripped her as a little child. She developed a fear of the dark and the monster that emerges—Chagas disease—after witnessing a buddy pass out during a nocturnal soccer match.
Chagas is a silent disease that can infect up to 8 million people annually and kill 12,000 people annually. The kissing or vampire bugs, which are bloodsucking insects, are the cause of it. During the night, while humans are sleeping, these bugs are most active.
After giving blood, Hernández’s 18-year-old daughter was given a diagnosis of Chagas disease. When they realized the terrible truth about the silent killer living inside of them, their entire world was flipped upside down.
North America, Europe, Japan, Australia, and South America are all home to Chagas disease, which bears the name of its discoverer, Carlos Ribeiro Justiniano Chagas. In rural places, the disease-carrying bugs are most frequently discovered in the walls of low-income homes. After biting their prey, they excrete on the skin, dispersing the illness.
Most persons who have Chagas disease are not aware that they have the condition. It can be deadly if left untreated. Surprisingly, Chagas disease—which includes malaria—kills more people in Latin America than any other parasitic disease.
Despite being found in the US, the Chagas disease-carrying insects are not thought to be endemic. But the number of Americans impacted is thought to be in the neighborhood of 300,000.
Chagas disease can cause a wide range of symptoms, with some persons showing none at all. However, 20 to 30 percent of infected individuals may experience gastrointestinal or cardiac problems that could eventually result in death or excruciating pain. Treatment and prevention are particularly difficult due to the poor global case detection rate.
People like Hernandez and Rodriguez had a difficult time getting the right medical care for years. Patients were astonished and afraid because doctors were frequently ignorant of or uninformed about Chagas disease. This lack of understanding and consciousness of the illness is a worldwide problem.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Chagas disease is a neglected tropical illness. Because those impacted lack the authority and clout to change it, it continues to be hidden and unappreciated. However, as the illness expands to new continents, it is becoming more apparent and comprehended.
The UK’s Chagas Hub was founded by Professor David Moore of the London Hospital for Tropical Diseases in order to cure afflicted individuals and increase public awareness of the condition. Although efforts to stop the spread of Chagas disease are ongoing, he recognized that progress in its eradication is gradual.
Although there is a treatment for Chagas disease, there are difficulties involved. The drugs that are now in use are not always effective and can have substantial negative effects. Effectively combating the disease will require further research and the development of improved medicines.
Now residing in Spain, Rodriguez combats the “monster” by spreading knowledge about Chagas disease. She urges individuals to get treatment, be tested, and have conversations about it. Her work is having an impact, as are the efforts of groups like the Barcelona Institute for Global Health.
On April 14, the day Carlos Chagas found the first human instance of the disease, the World Health Organization declared it to be World Chagas Disease Day. By 2030, this program seeks to prevent, control, eradicate, and eradicate a variety of 20 diseases, including Chagas disease.
It may be horrifying to consider that these insects are living inside our walls. We can, however, make a difference by raising awareness and assisting groups who are fighting to eradicate Chagas and other neglected tropical illnesses. Let’s end the taboo and bring this silent illness to light.
