KILLER DISEASES | How Chagas Disease Affects the Body

FIRST PUBLISHED 6 July 2016

The parasite enters the body when the victim of a blood-sucking bug bite scratches the bite. In the first acute phase, the parasite multiplies before entering the blood stream. The disease is also called “silent killer” as the next stage does not show symptoms and can last decades. A third of the people infected develop the chronic phase during which they can die very quickly because the parasites spread to the heart or digestive system.

Watch all of the Killer Diseases – Chagas disease videos:
History:    • KILLER DISEASES | A History of Chagas...  
Geography:    • KILLER DISEASES | Chagas Disease Arou...  
Body:    • KILLER DISEASES | How Chagas Disease ...  
Treatment:    • KILLER DISEASES | Chagas Disease Trea...  

Learn more about DNDi's work to develop better treatments for Chagas disease: https://www.dndi.org/diseases-project...

This video is part of the "Killer Diseases" series produced by MSF France, Allodocteurs, Réseau Canopé, Fondation Mérieux, universcience, Inserm, Institut Pasteur, and DNDi. Supported by les Investissements d’avenir.