O � c e o f B o r d e r P u b l i c H e a l t h , M C 1 9 0 3 • 4 0 1 E . F r a n k l i n S t e . 2 1 0 | E l P a s o , T X 7 8 7 2 8

This work was supported

by Grant 5G12MD007592

from the National Institute

on Minority Health and

Health Disparities (NIMHD),

a component of the

National Institutes of

Health (NIH).

Tr I a TOma

BPH-01

Sis

JR

Mama

baby

Triatomine

I am a “kissing bug”, my real name is Triatoma. I have many relatives in my Reduviidae family. My nickname is the kissing bug because I like to leave kisses (but really bites) around the mouth or eyes.

I am an insect with 6 legs about the size of a nickel. My family and I are quite similar, we have a long black or dark brown oval shaped body and black or dark brown and orange or yellow stripes that look like a tiny snake wrapped around the edge of my torso. We also have a small cone shaped head and two bulging eyes on the side of our tiny heads and two antennas in the front. We also have two large wings that are tucked on our backs. Our wings let us fly at night when we go out to eat.

Don ’ t I nv i te Tr iA toma to your house

Find the places the kissing bug hides and

place the right number next

to each.

I live in all sorts of places like under porches, in wood piles, in rock piles, crawl spaces, under cement, and around dog bedding outside.

Help Puppy avoid the kissing bug and find its dog house…

(1) ROCK PILE(2) CRAWL SPACE

(3) UNDER CEMENT(4) UNDER PORCH(5) DOG BEDDING

(6) WOOD PILE

Don ’ t I nv i te Tr iA toma to your house

Find the places the kissing bug hides and

place the right number next

to each.

I live in all sorts of places like under porches, in wood piles, in rock piles, crawl spaces, under cement, and around dog bedding outside.

Help Puppy avoid the kissing bug and find its dog house…

(1) ROCK PILE(2) CRAWL SPACE

(3) UNDER CEMENT(4) UNDER PORCH(5) DOG BEDDING

(6) WOOD PILE

2

7 1

3

45

6

Triatomine Bug Stages

T. cruzi Human StagesChagas disease

I eat (bite) too much. My stomach gets so full that I

have to poop and some of my T. cruzi leaves.

When I or any of my friends eat

(bite), we take our T. cruzi friends

back.

Once again we are together!

Inside me T. cruzi transforms and

reproduces.

Then he goes into the blood to find another home (cell) and every-thing starts over.

When a person scratches, my tiny friend goes inside.

He likes to enter the cells to live in there and reproduce.

After a while it gets too crowded, so they break the cell.

After years of chronic infection, some people develop heart diseases such as abnormal rhythms, heart failure, and risk of sudden death. Chagas disease can also cause gastrointestinal problems, such as severe constipation and difficulty swallowing.

Chagas disease is a preventable infection caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi and spread by infected insects called

triatomine or kissing bugs. The initial infection usually does not cause severe symptoms and is often not even diagnosed.

Chagas Disease Symptoms

Always wash your

__ __ __ __ __ , especially if

you have been outside playing.

Don’t rub your __ __ __ __

with dirty hands.

Don’t stick your dirty hands

in your __ __ __ __ __.

Don’t pick up __ __ __ __

unless you know what they

are because they can make

you sick.

AVOID getting sick or infected with germs and parasites like T. cruzi that cause Chagas disease

Remember to…

Fill in the blanks!

1

2

3

4

To protect yourself and your family from kissing bugs and T. cruzi:

Seal cracks and gaps around windows, walls, roofs, and doors. Cover holes that lead to attics, and crawl spaces.

Remove wood piles, brush, and rock piles near your home.

Use screens on doors and windows and repair any torn screens.

Keep your pets inside especially at night. Make sure your pet’s area is clean, and check for bugs.

Photo WHO/TDR

INTESTINALPROBLEMS SWOLLENGLANDS SWOLLENEYES

HEARTPROBLEMS LOSSOFAPPETITE BODYACHES

VOMITING RASH FATIGUE

DIARRHEA HEADACHE FEVER

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Chagas Disease SymptoMs

Find and circle the words in the puzzle below…

Normal FaceBitten Face

S ignS of Tr ia toma B i te

Do Th i sDon ’ t

do Th i s

Color the two sides of the face… one side normal and the other with the bite of the Triatomine bug.

Another important thing to remember is not to rub your eyes or put your dirty fingers in your mouth because there are some very mean bacteria and parasites like T. cruzi that can cause a lot of harm like Chagas disease.

It is very important to wash your hands

whenever you come inside from playing

outside, especially if you have a dog, or live on a farm with

other animals.

1

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10118 9

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76

Chagas Disease

Complete the Crossword puzzle …

ACROSS5. family of Triatoma6. helps to �y10. when kissing bugs like to come out13. protects your house from insects entering14. the parasite that causes Chagas disease15. shape of the kissing bug’s head16. folds that cover eyes when closed

DOWN1. a place where kissing bugs

hide that can be used to make a �re

2. very tired3. high body temperature4. process of washing your hands7. another place where kissing

bugs bite8. skin breakout9. organism that feeds o� a host11. has six legs and antennae12. place where your

dog sleepsThe Facts about

Kissing Bugs• Kissing bugs don’t really kiss… they bite around your eyes and lips.

• Kissing bugs can make you really sick. To protect your family keep the house and yard clean.

• If you get bitten by a dark bug with orange stripes, look for swelling on your face or arms and legs.

• T. cruzi could also infect your pet or other animal.

• If you have fever, feel tired and just want to stay in bed… tell your parents, then go to the doctor and get it checked. Look out for me! If you see me, don’t

touch me! Tell your mom or dad, they can catch me and call (915) 747- 6891 or email: ramaldonado@utep.edu

Activity book created by Rosa A. Maldonado, D.Sc. and Igor C. Almeida, DSc.,

Associate Professors, Department of Biological Sciences at The University of Texas

at El Paso, and Bibiana M. Mancera, Ph.D., Director, Community Engagement,

Border Biomedical Research Center at The University of Texas at El Paso.

Illustrated and designed by Geronimo Garcia, El Paso, Texas.