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| ==Overview== | | ==Overview== |
| The symptoms of Chagas' disease vary over the course of the infection. In the early, acute stage symptoms are mild and are usually no more than local swelling at the site of infection. As the disease progresses, over as much as twenty years, the serious chronic symptoms appear, such as heart disease and malformation of the intestines. If untreated, the chronic disease is often fatal. | | The majority of patients with acute Chagas disease infection are asymptomatic. Clinical manifestations of the acute phase of infection commonly non-specific symptoms, such as fever, myalgia, fatigue, and anorexia. Less commonly, patients may present with more severe disease that may be suggestive of early Chagas myocarditis or meningoencephalitis. Chronic symptoms are generally manifestations of Chagas either cardiomyopathy or GI disease. |
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| ==Symptoms== | | ==Symptoms== |
| The human [[disease]] occurs in two stages: the acute stage shortly after the [[infection]], and the chronic stage that may develop over 10 years.
| | ===Symptoms of acute infection=== |
| In the acute phase, a local skin nodule called a ''chagoma'' can appear at the site of [[inoculation]]. When the inoculation site is the [[conjunctiva]]l mucous membranes, the patient may develop unilateral [[periorbital edema]], [[conjunctivitis]], and preauricular lymphadenitis. This constellation of symptoms is referred to as Romaña's sign. The acute phase is usually [[asymptomatic]], but may present symptoms of [[fever]], [[anorexia (symptom)|anorexia]], [[lymphadenopathy]], mild [[hepatosplenomegaly]], and [[myocarditis]]. Even if symptoms develop during the acute phase, they usually fade away on their own within a few weeks or months. Although the symptoms resolve, the infection, if untreated, persists. Rarely, young children (<5%) die from severe inflammation/infection of the heart muscle (myocarditis) or brain ([[meningoencephalitis]]).
| | ====Common Symptoms==== |
| | *[[Fever]] |
| | *[[Myalgia]] |
| | *[[Arthralgia]] |
| | *[[Fatigue]] |
| | *[[Anorexia]] |
| | *[[Somnolence]] |
| | *[[Cramps]] |
| | *[[Diarrhea]] |
| | *Dull [[abdominal discomfort]] |
| | ====Less Common Symptoms==== |
| | *[[Neck swelling]] |
| | *[[Chest pain]] |
| | *[[Dyspnea]] |
| | *[[Extremity edema]] |
| | *[[Cyanosis]] |
| | *[[Headache]] |
| | *[[Visual disturbances]] |
| | *[[Photophobia]] |
| | *[[Coma]] |
| | ===Symptoms of Chagas cardiomyopathy=== |
| | *[[Chest pain]] |
| | *[[Palpitations]] |
| | *[[Light headedness]] |
| | *[[Dizziness]] |
| | *[[Dyspnea]] |
| | *[[Orthopnea]] |
| | *[[Extremity edema]] |
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| Some acute cases (10 to 20%) resolve over a period of 2 to 3 months into an asymptomatic chronic stage (called “chronic indeterminate”) during which few or no parasites are found in the blood. During this time, most people are unaware of their infection. Many people may remain asymptomatic for life and never develop Chagas-related symptoms. However, an estimated 30% of infected people will develop debilitating and sometimes life-threatening medical problems over the course of their lives.
| | ===Symptoms of Chagas esophageal disease=== |
| | | *[[Dysphagia]] |
| The symptomatic chronic stage may not occur for years or even decades after initial infection. The disease affects the [[nervous system]], [[digestive system]] and [[heart]]. Chronic infections result in various neurological disorders, including [[dementia]], damage to the heart muscle ([[cardiomyopathy]], the most serious manifestation), and sometimes dilation of the [[digestive tract]] ([[megacolon]] and [[megaesophagus]]), as well as [[weight loss]]. [[Swallowing]] difficulties may be the first symptom of digestive disturbances and may lead to [[malnutrition]]. After several years of an asymptomatic period, 27% of those infected develop cardiac damage, 6% develop digestive damage, and 3% present peripheral nervous involvement. Left untreated, Chagas' disease can be fatal, in most cases due to the [[cardiomyopathy]] component.
| | *[[Odynophagia]] |
| | | *[[Reflux]] |
| In people who have suppressed immune systems (for example, due to AIDS or chemotherapy), Chagas disease can reactivate with parasites found in the circulating blood. This occurrence can potentially cause severe disease.
| | *[[Weight loss]] |
| | *[[Cough]] |
| | *[[Regurgitation]] |
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| ==References== | | ==References== |
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| [[Category:Infectious disease]] | | [[Category:Infectious disease]] |
| [[Category:Mature chapter]] | | [[Category:Mature chapter]] |
| [[Category:Needs content]]
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| {{WH}} | | {{WH}} |
| {{WS}} | | {{WS}} |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
The majority of patients with acute Chagas disease infection are asymptomatic. Clinical manifestations of the acute phase of infection commonly non-specific symptoms, such as fever, myalgia, fatigue, and anorexia. Less commonly, patients may present with more severe disease that may be suggestive of early Chagas myocarditis or meningoencephalitis. Chronic symptoms are generally manifestations of Chagas either cardiomyopathy or GI disease.
Symptoms
Symptoms of acute infection
Common Symptoms
Less Common Symptoms
Symptoms of Chagas cardiomyopathy
Symptoms of Chagas esophageal disease
References
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Template:WS