Are You Worried About Chagas Disease?
SodaHead News
2012/06/01 19:00:00
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170 votes
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When doctors start comparing a disease to AIDS, it's time to take a closer look at what's going on. You don't want to start freaking out without reason, but you don't want to shrug it off, either. Chagas disease is a nearly incurable disease caused by a parasite called Trypanosoma cruzi, or the "kissing bug," and has affected approximately 8 million people worldwide, and 300,000 people in the U.S. But it's not a death sentence, and, incidentally, it's not spread by kissing.
According to PubMed Health, Chagas is either spread by infected kissing bugs (in areas where they're common, such as South America), or by blood transfusion in areas where they're not (such as the U.S.). It can also be passed on Symptoms include fever, constipation, abdomen pain, and loss of appetite. The real danger is in its potential to impact the heart, which could lead to death. Does it sound like something you should be afraid of?
According to PubMed Health, Chagas is either spread by infected kissing bugs (in areas where they're common, such as South America), or by blood transfusion in areas where they're not (such as the U.S.). It can also be passed on Symptoms include fever, constipation, abdomen pain, and loss of appetite. The real danger is in its potential to impact the heart, which could lead to death. Does it sound like something you should be afraid of?
Top Opinion
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Torchmanner ~PWCM~JLA 2012/06/02 12:10:32No
+16No, I'm more worried about people with the disease of liberalism. Liberalism is a mental disorder.
This, my friends, is the Stupid Disease.
One can only worry about so many things and I don't think this qualifies considering the competition for "worry time".
Besides, I believe in worrying about things that I can either attempt to change, or at least prepare for if I can't change it. Everything else is just wasted worry.
If they are in South America, eventually, they will end up here someplace...they are probably hitch hiker vermin, just like everything else that gets loaded in cargo containers and sent someplace..
Here is a map from the AABB (formerly the American Association of Blood Banks), from a Wired news story.
Due to the influx, the reintroduction of Polio and other "old time" diseases may be introduced...along with many others that we do not have knowledge of or prevention/treatment for....illegal entry is bad for tons of reasons, this is just one.