Animals can become infected the same way, and they can also contract the disease by eating an infected bug. By infective feces contacting your eyes, mouth, or open cuts. By infected mothers passing infection to their baby during pregnancy, at delivery, or while breastfeeding. By blood transfusion or organ transplant. Chagas disease primarily affects low income people living in rural areas.
Many people get the infection during childhood.
For these persons who develop chronic symptoms, the average life expectancy decreases by an average of 9 years. Some persons may be infected and never develop symptoms. Most people infected do not seek medical attention. The most recognized symptom of acute Chagas infection is the Roma a's sign, or swelling of the eye on one side of the face, usually at the bite wound or where feces were rubbed into the eye. Other symptoms are usually not specific for Chagas infection.