Can kissing bugs harm you?
Kissing bugs sometimes have a parasite in their poop that causes Chagas disease. In most people, that causes mild or no symptoms. But in some, the infection can lead to serious, long-term heart problems or disease in the intestines.
What disease does a kissing bug give you?
The cause of Chagas disease is the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which is spread from an insect known as the triatomine bug, or “kissing bug.” These insects can become infected by this parasite when they swallow blood from an animal that is infected with the parasite.
How do you identify a kissing bug?
KISSING BUGS — How to identify They have a ‘cone-shaped’ head, thin antennae, and thin legs. All of the kinds of kissing bugs found in the United States are mainly black or very dark brown, with red, orange or yellow ‘stripes’ around the edge of their bodies.
What to do if you get bitten by a kissing bug?
You can:
- Wash the bites with soap to lower the chance of infection.
- Use calamine lotion or an anti-itch cream to stop the itching. You can also hold an oatmeal-soaked washcloth on the itchy area for 15 minutes.
- Use an ice pack to stop the swelling.
- See your doctor if you think the bite may be infected.
Are assassin bugs different than kissing bugs?
The kissing bug belongs to the Reduviidae family of insects. This family is also referred to as assassin bugs. But this family of bugs doesn’t get the name “assassin” because it transmits Chagas disease (also known as kissing bug disease).
What do you do if you get bit by a kissing bug?
What is the difference between an assassin bug and a kissing bug?
What kissing bug bite look like?
The bite isn’t distinctive, either. It looks like any other bug bite, except there’s usually a cluster of bites together in one spot. People who are sensitive to the kissing bug’s saliva may experience a reaction to the bite. This is usually only mild itching, redness, and swelling.
Does Chagas go away?
cruzi infection) is also referred to as American trypanosomiasis. It is estimated that as many as 8 million people in Mexico, Central America, and South America have Chagas disease, most of whom do not know they are infected. If untreated, infection is lifelong and can be life threatening.
What do I do if I got bit by a kissing bug?
What kills the kissing bug?
Kissing bugs can fly, but they can also crawl and get inside that way. Homeowners can get rid of kissing bugs using liquid residual pesticides, baits or dusts.
What is the treatment for kissing bugs?
using screens in all windows,doors,and air vents
What are the symptoms of a kissing bug?
– an enlarged heart – irregular heart rhythms – thinning in the colon – thinning in the esophagus
Where are the kissing bugs found?
Kissing bugs are found in warm southern states of the U.S. and in Mexico, Central America, and South America. Kissing bugs can hide in cracks and holes in beds, floors, walls, and furniture. They are most likely to be found: Near places where a pet, such as a dog or cat, spends time.