Chagas disease (patient information)

For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click here

WikiDoc Resources for Chagas disease (patient information)
Articles
Most recent articles on Chagas disease (patient information) Most cited articles on Chagas disease (patient information) Review articles on Chagas disease (patient information) Articles on Chagas disease (patient information) in N Eng J Med, Lancet, BMJ
Media
Powerpoint slides on Chagas disease (patient information) Images of Chagas disease (patient information) Photos of Chagas disease (patient information) Podcasts & MP3s on Chagas disease (patient information) Videos on Chagas disease (patient information)
Evidence Based Medicine
Cochrane Collaboration on Chagas disease (patient information) Bandolier on Chagas disease (patient information) TRIP on Chagas disease (patient information)
Clinical Trials
Ongoing Trials on Chagas disease (patient information) at Clinical Trials.gov Trial results on Chagas disease (patient information) Clinical Trials on Chagas disease (patient information) at Google
Guidelines / Policies / Govt
US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Chagas disease (patient information) NICE Guidance on Chagas disease (patient information) NHS PRODIGY Guidance FDA on Chagas disease (patient information) CDC on Chagas disease (patient information)
Books
Books on Chagas disease (patient information)
News
Chagas disease (patient information) in the news Be alerted to news on Chagas disease (patient information) News trends on Chagas disease (patient information)
Commentary
Blogs on Chagas disease (patient information)
Definitions
Definitions of Chagas disease (patient information)
Patient Resources / Community
Patient resources on Chagas disease (patient information) Discussion groups on Chagas disease (patient information) Patient Handouts on Chagas disease (patient information) Directions to Hospitals Treating Chagas disease (patient information) Risk calculators and risk factors for Chagas disease (patient information)
Healthcare Provider Resources
Symptoms of Chagas disease (patient information) Causes & Risk Factors for Chagas disease (patient information) Diagnostic studies for Chagas disease (patient information) Treatment of Chagas disease (patient information)
Continuing Medical Education (CME)
CME Programs on Chagas disease (patient information)
International
Chagas disease (patient information) en Espanol Chagas disease (patient information) en Francais
Business
Chagas disease (patient information) in the Marketplace Patents on Chagas disease (patient information)
Experimental / Informatics
List of terms related to Chagas disease (patient information)

Editor-in-Chief: Meagan E. Doherty

Please Join in Editing This Page and Apply to be an Editor-In-Chief for this topic: There can be one or more than one Editor-In-Chief. You may also apply to be an Associate Editor-In-Chief of one of the subtopics below. Please mail us [1] to indicate your interest in serving either as an Editor-In-Chief of the entire topic or as an Associate Editor-In-Chief for a subtopic. Please be sure to attach your CV and or biographical sketch.

What is Chagas disease?

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 are the causes of 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 risk for Chagas disease?

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

How to know you have Chagas disease?

Physical examination can confirm the symptoms. Signs may include:

• Cardiomyopathy
• Enlarged liver and spleen
• Enlarged lymph nodes
• Irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)
• Rapid heartbeat (tachycardia)

Tests include:

• Blood culture
• Chest x-ray
• Echocardiogram
• Electrocardiogram (ECG)
• Enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA)
• Peripheral blood smear

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:

• Headaches and dizziness
• Loss of appetite and weight loss
• Neuropathy
• Problems sleeping
• Skin rashes

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

• Cardiomyopathy
• Enlargement of the colon (megacolon)
• Enlargement of the esophagus (megaesophagus) with swallowing difficulty
• Heart disease
• Heart failure
• Malnutrition

Sources

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

Template:SIB Template:WH Template:WS