Chagas disease (patient information): Difference between revisions

Jump to navigation Jump to search
Priyamvada Singh (talk | contribs)
No edit summary
WikiBot (talk | contribs)
m Bot: Removing from Primary care
 
(20 intermediate revisions by 9 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
__NOTOC__
{{Chagas disease (patient information)}}
'''For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click [[Chagas disease|here]]'''
'''For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click [[Chagas disease|here]]'''
{{SI}}


{{CMG}}; '''Assistant Editor(s)-in-Chief:''' Meagan E. Doherty
{{CMG}}; '''Assistant Editor(s)-in-Chief:''' Meagan E. Doherty
Line 9: Line 11:
==What are the symptoms of Chagas disease?==
==What are the symptoms of Chagas disease?==
Chagas disease has two phases -- acute and chronic. The acute phase may have no symptoms or very mild symptoms. Symptoms include:
Chagas disease has two phases -- acute and chronic. The acute phase may have no symptoms or very mild symptoms. Symptoms include:
* Fever
* [[Fever]]
* General ill feeling (malaise)
* General ill feeling ([[malaise]])
* Swelling of one eye
* Swelling of one eye
* Swollen red area at site of insect bite
* Swollen red area at site of insect bite
After the acute phase the disease goes into remission. No other symptoms may appear for many years. When symptoms finally develop, they may include:
After the acute phase the disease goes into remission. No other symptoms may appear for many years. When symptoms finally develop, they may include:
* Constipation
* [[Constipation]]
* Digestive problems
* Digestive problems
* Pain in the abdomen
* Pain in the abdomen
* Swallowing difficulties
* Swallowing difficulties


==What are the causes of Chagas disease?==
==What causes Chagas disease?==
Chagas disease is caused by [[Trypanosoma cruzi]], a parasite related to the African trypanosome that causes sleeping sickness. It is spread by reduvid bugs and is one of the major health problems in South America. Due to immigration, the disease also affects people in the United States.
Chagas disease is caused by [[Trypanosoma cruzi]], a parasite related to the African trypanosome that causes sleeping sickness. It is spread by reduvid bugs and is one of the major health problems in South America. Due to immigration, the disease also affects people in the United States.


==Who is at risk for Chagas disease?==
==Who is at highest risk?==
Risk factors for Chagas disease include:
Risk factors for Chagas disease include:
* Living in a hut where reduvid bugs live in the walls
* Living in a hut where reduvid bugs live in the walls
Line 29: Line 31:
* Receiving a blood transfusion from a person who carries the parasite but does not have active Chagas disease
* Receiving a blood transfusion from a person who carries the parasite but does not have active Chagas disease


==How to know you have Chagas disease?==
==Diagnosis==
Physical examination can confirm the symptoms. Signs may include:
Physical examination can confirm the symptoms. Signs may include:
* [[Cardiomyopathy]]
* [[Cardiomyopathy]]
Line 44: Line 46:
* Peripheral blood smear
* Peripheral blood smear


==When to seek urgent medical care==
==When to seek urgent medical care?==
Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you may be infected with Chagas disease.
Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you may be infected with Chagas disease.


Line 51: Line 53:
Both drugs often have side effects. The side effects may be worse in older people.
Both drugs often have side effects. The side effects may be worse in older people.
Side effects may include:
Side effects may include:
* Headaches and dizziness
* [[Headaches]] and [[dizziness]]
* Loss of appetite and weight loss
* Loss of appetite and [[weight loss]]
* Neuropathy
* [[Neuropathy]]
* Problems sleeping
* Problems sleeping
* Skin rashes
* [[Skin rash]]es


==Where to find medical care for Chagas disease==
==Where to find medical care for Chagas disease?==
[http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q={{urlencode:{{#if:{{{1|}}}|{{{1}}}|yourdisease}}}}&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=65.008093,112.148438&ie=UTF8&ll=37.0625,-95.677068&spn=91.690419,149.414063&z=2&source=embed Directions to Hospitals Treating Chagas disease]
[http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q={{urlencode:{{#if:{{{1|}}}|{{{1}}}|yourdisease}}}}&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=65.008093,112.148438&ie=UTF8&ll=37.0625,-95.677068&spn=91.690419,149.414063&z=2&source=embed Directions to Hospitals Treating Chagas disease]


Line 63: Line 65:
Insect control with insecticides and houses that are less likely to have high insect populations will help control the spread of the disease. Blood banks in Central and South America screen donors for exposure to the parasite. The blood is discarded if the donor tests positive. Most blood banks in the U.S. began screening for Chagas disease in 2007.
Insect control with insecticides and houses that are less likely to have high insect populations will help control the spread of the disease. Blood banks in Central and South America screen donors for exposure to the parasite. The blood is discarded if the donor tests positive. Most blood banks in the U.S. began screening for Chagas disease in 2007.


==What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)==
==What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?==
About 30% of infected people who are not treated will develop chronic or symptomatic Chagas disease. It may take more than 20 years from the time of the original infection to develop heart or digestive problems. Abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias, ventricular tachycardia) may cause sudden death. Once heart failure develops, death usually occurs within several years.
About 30% of infected people who are not treated will develop chronic or symptomatic Chagas disease. It may take more than 20 years from the time of the original infection to develop heart or digestive problems. Abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias, ventricular tachycardia) may cause sudden death. Once heart failure develops, death usually occurs within several years.


===Possible Complications===
==Possible complications==
* Cardiomyopathy
* [[Cardiomyopathy]]
* Enlargement of the colon (megacolon)
* Enlargement of the colon ([[megacolon]])
* Enlargement of the esophagus (megaesophagus) with swallowing difficulty
* Enlargement of the esophagus ([[megaesophagus]]) with swallowing difficulty
* Heart disease
* Heart disease
* Heart failure
* [[Heart failure]]
* Malnutrition
* [[Malnutrition]]


==Sources==
==Sources==
*http://www.wikidoc.org/index.php/WikiDoc_Scholars_Program
*http://www.cdc.gov/chagas/gen_info/detailed.html
*http://www.cdc.gov/chagas/gen_info/detailed.html


{{SIB}}
{{WH}}
{{WH}}
{{WS}}
{{WS}}
[[Category:Patient Information]]
 
[[Category:Patient information]]
[[Category:Parasitic diseases]]
[[Category:Parasitic diseases]]
[[Category:Zoonoses]]
[[Category:Zoonoses]]
Line 88: Line 88:
[[Category:Neglected diseases]]
[[Category:Neglected diseases]]
[[Category:Insect-borne diseases]]
[[Category:Insect-borne diseases]]
[[Category:DiseaseState]]
[[Category:Disease]]
[[Category:Mature chapter]]
[[Category:Emergency medicine]]
[[Category:Up-To-Date]]
[[Category:Infectious disease]]
[[Category:Infectious disease]]
[[Category:Gastroenterology]]
[[Category:Cardiology]]

Latest revision as of 20:52, 29 July 2020

Chagas disease

Overview

What are the symptoms of Chagas disease?

What causes Chagas disease?

Who is at highest risk?

Diagnosis

When to seek urgent medical care?

Treatment options

Where to find medical care for Chagas disease?

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

Possible complications

Chagas disease On the Web

Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov

Images of Chagas disease

Videos on Chagas disease

FDA on Chagas disease

CDC on Chagas disease

Chagas disease in the news

Blogs on Chagas disease

Directions to Hospitals Treating Chagas disease

Risk calculators and risk factors for Chagas disease

For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click here

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Assistant Editor(s)-in-Chief: Meagan E. Doherty

Overview

Chagas disease is an illness spread by insects. It is common in South and Central America.

What are the symptoms of Chagas disease?

Chagas disease has two phases -- acute and chronic. The acute phase may have no symptoms or very mild symptoms. Symptoms include:

  • Fever
  • General ill feeling (malaise)
  • Swelling of one eye
  • Swollen red area at site of insect bite

After the acute phase the disease goes into remission. No other symptoms may appear for many years. When symptoms finally develop, they may include:

  • Constipation
  • Digestive problems
  • Pain in the abdomen
  • Swallowing difficulties

What causes Chagas disease?

Chagas disease is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, a parasite related to the African trypanosome that causes sleeping sickness. It is spread by reduvid bugs and is one of the major health problems in South America. Due to immigration, the disease also affects people in the United States.

Who is at highest risk?

Risk factors for Chagas disease include:

  • Living in a hut where reduvid bugs live in the walls
  • Living in Central or South America
  • Poverty
  • Receiving a blood transfusion from a person who carries the parasite but does not have active Chagas disease

Diagnosis

Physical examination can confirm the symptoms. Signs may include:

Tests include:

When to seek urgent medical care?

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you may be infected with Chagas disease.

Treatment options

The acute phase and reactivated Chagas disease should be treated. Infants born with the infection should also be treated. Treating the chronic phase is recommended for both children and adults. Adult patients should talk to their doctor about whether to treat chronic Chagas disease. Two drugs are used to treat this infection: benznidazole and nifurtimox. Both drugs often have side effects. The side effects may be worse in older people. Side effects may include:

Where to find medical care for Chagas disease?

Directions to Hospitals Treating Chagas disease

Prevention of Chagas disease

Insect control with insecticides and houses that are less likely to have high insect populations will help control the spread of the disease. Blood banks in Central and South America screen donors for exposure to the parasite. The blood is discarded if the donor tests positive. Most blood banks in the U.S. began screening for Chagas disease in 2007.

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

About 30% of infected people who are not treated will develop chronic or symptomatic Chagas disease. It may take more than 20 years from the time of the original infection to develop heart or digestive problems. Abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias, ventricular tachycardia) may cause sudden death. Once heart failure develops, death usually occurs within several years.

Possible complications

Sources

Template:WH Template:WS