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Chagas' disease |
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Chagas' disease, disease of South and Central America caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. It usually affects children and young adults and is transmitted by the feces of infected insects, typically the assassin bug assassin bug, common name for members of the family Reduviidae, one of the largest and most varied groups belonging to the order Hemiptera (suborder Heteroptera). ..... Click the link for more information. . Most of those infected have mild symptoms, such as fever and swelling and redness around the eyes, but from 10% to 30% develop chronic disease that may result in serious or fatal inflammation of the brain and heart tissues. There is no vaccine and no satisfactory treatment. The incidence of Chagas' disease in the United States has increased since the 1970s, possibly because of increased immigration from Mexico and Central America, where the incidence is very high. In immunosuppressed patients (see AIDS AIDS or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, fatal disease caused by a rapidly mutating retrovirus that attacks the immune system and leaves the victim vulnerable to infections, malignancies, and neurological disorders. ..... Click the link for more information. ) Chagas' disease can form a mass in the cranial cavity that mimics a tumor, presumably because the lymphocytes that guard against the parasite are the same that are depleted by the AIDS virus. See also trypanosome trypanosome (trĭp`ənəsōm'), microscopic, one-celled protozoan of the genus Trypanosoma, ..... Click the link for more information. . How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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Scientists at the University of California, San Francisco several years ago found that a drug called K11777 kills the protozoan that causes Chagas' disease, which is common in South America. have entered our country along with nonterrorist illegals who are bringing diseases previously wiped out in the country: Chagas' disease, tuberculosis, leprosy, etc. In Latin America, at least 10 million people are infected with Chagas' disease, one form of trypanosomiasis; and drug screening for more effective compounds to treat onchocerciasis (river blindness), a form of filariasis, which affects some 30 million West Africans. |
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