What to know about the potentially deadly 'kissing bugs'

"Kissing bugs" may sound sweet, but the disease they spread can turn deadly.

The triatomine bug leaves often painless bites around the face like kisses, hence the nickname. Not as charming as it may seem, the bug spreads a parasitic illness known as Chagas diisease through its poop, though the parasite can also spread in utero from mother to child, through blood transfusions or by eating unpeeled fruits or vegetables from areas where the bug is common. Some people or animals can go weeks, months or years without knowing they've been infected, says Dr. Norman Betty, an associate professor of medicine in the division of infectious disease and global medicine at the University of Florida College of Medicine.

Beatty authored a recent CDC report calling for Chagas disease to be declared endemic to the U.S., something he says would allow scientists to improve research and track cases more easily. The bugs have been spotted in 32 states, and human cases of the illness have now been reported in eight. Researchers say that cases are often underreported. Chagas disease can have a range of symptoms; some people don't experience any, while others experience flu-like illness and swollen glands. Left untreated, the illness can start to affect the heart — part of why more research is needed, Beatty said.

PBS News' Deema Zein spoke with Beatty about what people should know about Chagas disease and how you can protect yourself and your pets.

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