Chagas disease ( = American trypanosomiasis) is caused by infection with trypanosoma cruzi, which is carried by triatomine insects. It occurs predominantly in Latin America.
Presentation:
- Acute disease
- Asymptomatic in 95% of cases
- If symptomatic:
- Fever
- muscle aches
- nausea/vomiting
- painless unilateral periorbital oedema (= Romana’s sign)
- hepatosplenomegaly
- lymphadenopathy
- Chronic disease
- Develops in 2/3rds of infected individuals
- Cardiac complications – 95%
- Cardiomyopathy
- Apical aneurysm
- Megaoesophagus/megacolon
Diagnosis:
- Microscopy
- Haemoculture
- IgG immunological assays
Treatment:
Benznidazole or nifurtimox
References:
