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Do
You Suffer From Chagas' Disease?
There are
several well known symptoms of Chagas' disease and the
causes for these are listed here.
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Our Bodies Pay the Price
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Millions
of T. cruzi parasites colonize muscle neurons
where they feed, grow, and reproduce. These parasites
have a symbiotic relationship with us. Our immune system
strikes back, often causing more damage than the parasite.
As a result of our immune system overreacting and damage
from the parasite, our bodies greatly suffer.
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Constipation is a Major Symptom
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Constipation
is a major symptom for people with Chagas' disease.
T. cruzi invades the colon which is unable to
excercise peristalsis. At this blockage, swelling occurs
because food cannot pass through.
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Our Hearts Are Put At Risk
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As T.
cruzi invades our heart, we suffer the effects that
the parasite inflicts upon us. The pathogen causes damage
to our heart's nervous tissue and disrupts its electrical
system. This causes the heart to malfunction, i.e. irregular
heartbeats, fast heart, inefficient pumping of blood,
and enlarged heart. Chagasic patients frequently have
enlarged hearts and are subject to "sudden death."
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Our
Throats' Normal Function is Interrupted
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The disfuntion
of normal esophageal activity is caused by disruption
of the nervous tissue of the throat. Coordinated peristalsis
that normally brings food and drink to the stomach is
interrupted, so that the food is not pushed down the
stomach. Patients drown from this effect as liquids
go into the windpipe.
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The
Vinchuca's Bite Leave Its Mark
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Sleepers
can awake to find a vinchuca
biting them, drawing blood through its bite. Often some
swelling, a chagoma, occurs from the bite and
about one fourth of those infected with T. cruzi
in the acute phase of the disease show this
sign. Romana's sign,
the hallmark of chagas, is a perduring swelling around
the eye.
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