{"id":866,"date":"2025-09-24T10:26:59","date_gmt":"2025-09-24T10:26:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/viralitynews25.com\/?p=866"},"modified":"2025-09-24T10:26:59","modified_gmt":"2025-09-24T10:26:59","slug":"a-mothers-unexpected-diagnosis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/viralitynews25.com\/?p=866","title":{"rendered":"A Mother\u2019s Unexpected Diagnosis."},"content":{"rendered":"

As a child, Emiliana Rodr\u00edguez, originally from Bolivia, watched a group of friends playing soccer at night when one of the players suddenly collapsed and died. At the time, she did not understand what had happened but soon learned about the silent killer called Chagas disease\u2014a \u201cmonster\u201d she was told only comes out at night. Rodr\u00edguez\u2019s friend was one of the 12,000 people who die each year from Chagas disease, a \u201csilent and silenced illness\u201d transmitted by nocturnal bugs that infect up to 8 million people annually.
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Although Emiliana moved from Bolivia to Barcelona 27 years ago, she still lives with Chagas disease, which she refers to as a \u201cmonster.\u201d \u201cThe fear usually came at night. Sometimes I couldn\u2019t sleep,\u201d she said. \u201cI was afraid of going to sleep and not waking up.\u201d She discovered she was a carrier of Chagas disease eight years ago while expecting her first child. The memories of her friend\u2019s sudden death flooded back. \u201cI was paralyzed with shock,\u201d she recalled. \u201cI remembered all the stories my family told me about people suddenly dying, and I thought, \u2018What will happen to my baby?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Thankfully, Rodr\u00edguez received treatment to prevent passing the parasite to her unborn child through the placenta. Her newborn daughter tested negative for the disease.\u00a0A Mother\u2019s Unexpected Diagnosis.\u00a0<\/strong>In Mexico, Elvira Idalia Hern\u00e1ndez Cuevas had never heard of Chagas disease until her 18-year-old daughter was diagnosed. Idalia\u2019s daughter gave blood in her hometown near Veracruz, and during testing, doctors discovered she had contracted the disease, which is spread by triatomine bugs\u2014commonly known as kissing or vampire bugs\u2014that feed on human blood. \u201cI had never heard of Chagas before, so I started researching it online,\u201d Hern\u00e1ndez said in an interview. \u201cI was terrified when I read it described as a silent killer. I didn\u2019t know where to turn or what to do.\u201d Many people remain unaware that these bugs can transmit serious disease.<\/p>\n

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A Discovery Over a Century Ago<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chagas disease was first identified by Brazilian doctor and researcher Carlos Ribeiro Justiniano Chagas in 1909, when he documented the first human case. Over the years, the geographic range of Chagas has expanded beyond Latin America to include parts of Europe, Asia, and Oceania. At night, while people sleep, kissing bugs emerge from cracks and walls in low-income rural or suburban homes.<\/p>\n

The parasite\u00a0Trypanosoma cruzi<\/em>\u00a0spreads when an infected bug bites a person or animal, then defecates near the bite. Scratching allows the parasite to enter the body through the skin or mucous membranes.<\/p>\n

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A Hidden Epidemic<\/strong><\/p>\n

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 6 to 7 million people worldwide live with Chagas disease, many of whom are unaware of their infection. The disease mainly affects people in Mexico, Central America, and South America, and can remain untreated for life. Approximately 12,000 people die annually from Chagas, a toll that surpasses other parasitic diseases like malaria in Latin America. Although nearly 300,000 people in the United States are infected, Chagas is not considered endemic there. Even without symptoms, 20-30% of those infected may develop serious heart or gastrointestinal complications decades after infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).<\/p>\n

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Challenges in Diagnosis and Treatment<\/strong><\/p>\n

Only about 10% of infected individuals worldwide receive a diagnosis. This low detection rate, along with a lack of awareness among medical professionals, complicates efforts to treat and prevent the disease. Hern\u00e1ndez and her daughter saw multiple doctors but struggled to find knowledgeable care. \u201cI was scared and sad, thinking my daughter might die,\u201d Hern\u00e1ndez said. \u201cThe lack of reliable information only increased my anxiety.\u201d She explained that in Mexico, many doctors confuse Chagas with other heart diseases due to lack of training. \u201cThe authorities say it\u2019s under control, but that\u2019s not the reality,\u201d she added. The WHO classifies Chagas as a neglected tropical disease, one that suffers from both biological and social neglect.<\/p>\n

Current Treatments and Research<\/strong><\/p>\n

Colin Forsyth, research manager at the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi), said Chagas is overlooked partly because it stays silent for so long in the body, making it hard to detect early. Transmission can also occur from mother to child during pregnancy or childbirth, as well as through blood transfusions and organ transplants, spreading the disease beyond traditional regions. The Chagas Hub, led by Dr. David Moore at London\u2019s Hospital for Tropical Diseases, aims to increase testing and treatment, especially to prevent mother-to-child transmission. Moore admits progress is slow. \u201cThe target to eliminate Chagas by 2030 seems highly unlikely,\u201d he said. Current drugs\u2014benznidazole and nifurtimox\u2014have been in use for over 50 years. These medications can be toxic, unpleasant, and not always effective, especially in adults.<\/p>\n

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Newborns can be cured if treated early, but treatment in adults only slows disease progression without guaranteed success. Rodr\u00edguez experienced side effects like allergic rash, dizziness, and nausea during her treatment but has now completed it and undergoes yearly checkups. Pharmaceutical companies have little incentive to develop new treatments because of the limited commercial market.<\/p>\n

Raising Awareness<\/strong><\/p>\n

As president of the International Federation of Associations of People Affected by Chagas Disease (FINDECHAGAS), Hern\u00e1ndez works to amplify the voices of those affected and push for better treatments. In Spain, Rodr\u00edguez is collaborating with the Barcelona Institute for Global Health to raise public awareness about Chagas disease. \u201cI\u2019m tired of the silence,\u201d she said. \u201cI want people to talk about Chagas, get tested, and receive treatment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Global Efforts<\/strong><\/p>\n

In recognition of Dr. Carlos Chagas\u2019 discovery, the World Health Organization declared April 14 as World Chagas Disease Day to promote awareness and action. The WHO\u2019s global health targets for 2030 include efforts to prevent, control, and eliminate a variety of diseases, including Chagas.<\/p>\n

Preventing Kissing Bug Infestations<\/strong><\/p>\n

The CDC recommends the following steps to reduce the risk of kissing bug infestations:<\/p>\n