Canal Abierto spoke with institutions that work in the prevention, treatment and control of the disease, and also with Ruth Oño, a young woman who has lived with Chagas for many years. In their testimonies, they detail the most important data to take into account, and emphasize that information and timely treatment can prevent Chagas from spreading further. Chagas is the most important endemic disease in Argentina, since 4% of the country's population (1.5 billion people) is infected. But how is it contracted? What are the complications? Is there a cure? The answers are in this special report. Chagas is contracted in several ways. The main one is caused by the bite of the vinchuca, an insect infected with the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite. When scratching, the person introduces the insect's feces into the wound. Another way of contagion is from a pregnant person to her baby during pregnancy or childbirth. As a result of this, National Law 26,281 establishes the obligation to perform Chagas tests within pregnancy checks throughout the country and for all pregnant people. It is also contracted through blood transfusion or organ transplant from infected donors; by consuming drinks or food contaminated with fecal matter from infected vinchucas; and by the shared use of syringes by intravenous drug users. According to the Ministry of Health of the Nation, in the days after the parasite enters the body, approximately 8% of infected people present general clinical symptoms such as prolonged fever, diarrhea, headache, fatigue, irritability, vomiting, lack of appetite, and general malaise. However, in most cases, this initial stage goes unnoticed. Later, no symptoms are observed until after a variable number of years, the chronic phase of the disease manifests itself through problems that are generally cardiac, digestive, or neurological, which can be serious. Statistically, 30% of infected people will develop Chagas disease, which affects the heart and/or digestive system, and 70% of infected people go through their entire life without developing the disease. Learning more about this disease that has been with us for decades would allow us to reinforce prevention, but also to eradicate myths and stigmas directed towards people who live with Chagas. We should also understand that, as explained above, thinking that if there are no symptoms there is no disease is a mistaken notion. Finally, we should know that many years ago the disease stopped being transmitted mainly through vectors. The work of eradicating vinchucas in the areas of greatest circulation was fundamental for this. However, migration and vertical transmission – from mother to baby – gained ground and today it is the main route of contagion. Follow us: www.canalabierto.com.ar www.facebook.com/CanalAbierto / canalabiertoar instagram.com/canalabierto WhatsApp: http://bit.ly/WhatsAppCanalAbierto #queeselchagas #chagas #elchagas