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Can Chagas Disease Be Transmitted By Drinking Water Contaminated With Kissing Bug?
Question: Hi. By accident I drank water that had a kissing bug in it and i am concerned about Chagas disease . What are the chances ? I am 6 weeks pregnant .
This happened last weekend. How soon can i take a blood test to see if i have chagas?
This happened last weekend. How soon can i take a blood test to see if i have chagas?
Brief Answer:
Chances of infection are there. Needs proper treatment if infected.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,Welcome to HCM.
Thanks for trusting us with your health concern.
Drinking the water containing a kissing bug in it poses you to the chances of having an infection. The chances of infection are present. But the pregnancy as such does not increase the chances of having an infection.
The best way to diagnose it is to get a blood test done after 2 weeks even if you are asymptomatic. In case the test comes positive then an immediate treatment is needed after consulting your gynecologist regarding the safe medicines during pregnancy.
A peripheral blood smear and serological tests will help in proper diagnosis or ruling out the disease.
Please feel free to discuss further. I will be glad to answer the follow up queries that you have.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr. Rakhi Tayal.
For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL XXXX
Chances of infection are there. Needs proper treatment if infected.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,Welcome to HCM.
Thanks for trusting us with your health concern.
Drinking the water containing a kissing bug in it poses you to the chances of having an infection. The chances of infection are present. But the pregnancy as such does not increase the chances of having an infection.
The best way to diagnose it is to get a blood test done after 2 weeks even if you are asymptomatic. In case the test comes positive then an immediate treatment is needed after consulting your gynecologist regarding the safe medicines during pregnancy.
A peripheral blood smear and serological tests will help in proper diagnosis or ruling out the disease.
Please feel free to discuss further. I will be glad to answer the follow up queries that you have.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr. Rakhi Tayal.
For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL XXXX
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Sonia Raina
I am pretty sure I found a kissing bug in my water which i drank before i saw the bug . When should i get screened for Chagas disease?
Brief Answer:
Get the test done after 2 weeks of exposure.
Detailed Answer:
Hello.
Thanks for writing again.
Finding a kissing bug does not mean the bug is infected and the germs entered your body. The chances of infection are not more than 10%. Since it has been a week and you do not have any symptoms it is best to get yourself tested for the infection next week- two weeks after the exposure.
Hope my answer is helpful.
Do accept my answer in case there are no further queries.
Regards.
Get the test done after 2 weeks of exposure.
Detailed Answer:
Hello.
Thanks for writing again.
Finding a kissing bug does not mean the bug is infected and the germs entered your body. The chances of infection are not more than 10%. Since it has been a week and you do not have any symptoms it is best to get yourself tested for the infection next week- two weeks after the exposure.
Hope my answer is helpful.
Do accept my answer in case there are no further queries.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Answered by
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