1. The first step towards reducing your risk of acquiring the disease is through knowledge.  Educating yourself and your family about the following three areas may help you to reduce your risk of acquiring the disease.

A. Identification of the insect: see the page on Kissing Bug photos: View Kissing Bug Photos  and make sure all members of your family area also familiar with the markings of kissing bugs

B. Protection of your Home:  Homes should be inspected for any openings through which insects could potentially gain access to your home. Check for any broken screens and repair any screens with holes or those which do not fit tightly and cover any window openings completely.  Especially for those who own older homes, it is particularly important to examine any keyholes that may still be in use on older doors, and plug any openings that you find to close access to any unwanted insects entering your home.

C. Insecticide Spray: using an insecticide is always a personal choice and every insecticide must be used cautiously and those using insecticides should carefully read labels and adhere to any precautions in terms of applying the product should you choose to use an insecticide.  Products containing permethrin as an ingredient are said to help repel the reduviid bugs. Read the label also of the product to determine how often to spray. Note: (Some of the labels that we have seen on permethrin based products state that the product will be effective for only 21 days.  If you choose to hire a professional exterminating service to spray your home, note that many companies will only spray four times a year. If you choose to use an insecticide yourself, make certain to read the label regarding the duration of protection from the  product and understand that products we have used and seen, have to be re-applied according to the label every 21 days.)

D. Be particularly careful at dusk or after dark, as the reduviid or kissing bug insects are noctornal or night time insects, meaning that they come out of hiding at night. During the day they are usually found hiding in cracks or crevices, or under piles of debris, but during the night they venture out of their hiding places to obtain a blood meal.

E. Lights often attract reduviid bugs, and opening a door with an outside light turned on in your home, may attract insects to enter your home while the door is opened, so be cautious around any light source.

F. If you have infants or children, make sure to check their crib and linens for any unwanted insects before putting them into bed.

G. Never, ever pick up a Reduviid bug with your bare hands, nor should you touch any areas where you have seen them crawling

H. If you do travel to Central or South America, be particularly careful about what type of accomodations you choose for sleeping.