Waterborne Diseases
Bhaumi Shah, Tara Chen, Rishi Gaddamanugu
Legionnaires' disease
Spreading, Treatments, and Prevention
Chagas Disease
Trypanosoma cruzi
Trypanosoma cruzi
Kissing Bug
Transmission, Treatments, and Prevention
Treatments of the disease in its acute stage include drugs benznidazole and nifurtimox. In the chronic phase, Chagas disease requires different treatments based on if the disease causes digestive or heart issues, or in some cases, both. For digestive complications, changes in diet, medications, and corticosteroids, are used for treatment, and in extreme cases, surgery might be required. For heart complications medications, devices to regulate heart rhythm, and surgery are used to treat the disease, however, heart transplants might be needed in rare cases.
Prevention of the disease includes using insect repellent in areas where the bug is common and spraying insecticide to keep the bugs away. It is also recommended to not sleep in adobe, mud, or thatch houses and if sleeping in adobe, mud, or thatch houses to put an insecticide soaked net over your bed.