Are your children at risk of Chagas disease?
Your family may be more likely to get Chagas disease if:
You have lived in or visited Latin America
Chagas disease is most common in Latin America where most people get infected.
Members of your family may have the infection
Chagas disease is not contagious like the cold or flu. People do not get it by just being around a person who is infected.
However, if a family member caught the infection from a kissing bug, it is possible that kissing bugs may have infected other members of the family as well.
Pregnant mothers with Chagas disease may pass the infection to their unborn babies. If a mother has Chagas disease, all of her children should be tested to see if they have the infection.
If you are pregnant or may become pregnant and are at risk of Chagas disease, be sure to let your doctor know.
Babies who became infected during pregnancy may be treated after birth. However, doctors need to know if you have Chagas disease to test you while you are pregnant and to test your baby after birth.
Have you seen a kissing bug?
Kissing bugs tend to hide during the day. But, if you have ever seen a bug that looks like this, it could be a kissing bug, and you could be at risk of Chagas disease.
There are different types of kissing bugs, but they all have things in common.
Adult kissing bugs can fly, but they are mostly seen on the ground. Let your doctor know if you think you have seen a kissing bug.
- Thin antennae
- Long, thin head
- Teardrop shape
- Thin legs
- Often orange or yellow stripes
- 0.5 to 1.25 inches in size
- Dark brown or black
