Beware of Kissing Bugs!

by Bridgett McPark, age 13

Kissing bugs can cause Chagas disease, which is found in their feces. Their name may seem sweet, but in reality, the bug can give disease to humans and other animals. Chagas disease is also known as American trypanosomiasis and the silent killer.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report stating Chagas disease is endemic to the U.S., meaning it regularly occurs within an area or community. Kissing bugs’ bites are generally not painful, allowing them to bite and feed without being noticed. They are nocturnal and attracted to light, thus their activity is most often at night and they crawl into human spaces when people are sleeping. People get infected from the bug bites, usually occurring around a person’s lip or face, where they deposit their feces. House pets, such as dogs and cats, can also get Chagas disease.

Kissing bugs can be identified by their cone-shaped heads, thin antennae, and slender legs. In the United States, they are commonly black or dark brown, with red, orange, or yellow stripes along the edges of their bodies.

Some people have mild symptoms from the disease, while others develop serious heart and digestive issues. Kissing bugs are mainly found in the southern parts of the U.S, Mexico, Central America, and South America. Although many might think these bugs are newly discovered, they are not; they were actually found in the mid-1800s in the United States.

While kissing bugs may seem harmless, they are a huge health concern because they usually carry Chagas disease. Being aware of kissing bugs and taking simple precautions can help protect multiple people and families from the serious health risks they carry.

[Source: Discover Magazine, Texas A&M University]