5. Enlarged Spleen
The spleen is an organ that has a similar structure to a big lymph node. The job of the spleen is to filter the blood. The spleen is very important when it comes to red blood cell production and is an important part of the immune system. When a person is infected with Chagas disease, the spleen may become enlarged. As the spleen is attempting to filter the parasite out of the bloodstream, it may become overworked and aggravated.
When this occurs, it may become inflamed and this inflammation can cause the spleen to swell or to become enlarged. A person may feel tenderness in the area of the spleen. There may also be a slight bulge that protrudes from the body.
An enlarged spleen can become dangerous quite quickly, so it is important to seek medical attention right away so that a proper diagnosis and treatment plan can be put into place.