Doctors Warn About Potentially Lethal ‘Kissing Bug’ That May Already Have Infected 300,000 Americans

The name “kissing bug” doesn’t quite communicate the danger of the infection that insects with that moniker can spread.

These bloodsucking bugs, called triatomine bugs, spread a parasitic illness called Chagas disease. Left untreated, Chagas causes serious cardiac or intestinal complications in about 30% of patients, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These complications can lead to heart failure and sudden death. . .

Chagas has typically been found in Central America and South America, but the disease is becoming more common in the US, Canada, Europe, Australia, and Japan, according to a recent statement from the American Heart Association and the Inter-American Society of Cardiology. The groups warn that doctors outside Latin America must become more aware of the disease so they can recognize, treat, and control it.

The AHA estimates that about 300,000 people are infected with Chagas in the US right now and that about 6 million people are infected around the world. . .

During the night, certain species of triatomine bugs crawl on people, dogs, or other mammals to feed. They often bite on the face, especially near the eyes or mouth — hence the “kissing bugs” name. (Read more from “Doctors Warn About Potentially Lethal ‘Kissing Bug’ That May Already Have Infected 300,000 Americans” HERE)

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