Chagas disease is an infection caused by a parasite (Trypanosoma cruzi). The infection is spread usually through a bite from a blood-sucking insect such as a kissing bug. Chagas disease is also called American trypanosomiasis.

Symptoms of Chagas disease include a fever, body aches, and sweats. Some people do not have any symptoms. Chagas disease is treated with medicines that kill the parasite. If left untreated, infected people can develop chronic Chagas disease 10 to 30 years after the infection first occurred. Chronic Chagas disease can damage the heart, esophagus, and colon.