Chagas disease (trypanosomiasis)

Description An infectious condi...

Description

An infectious condition caused by a parasite (Trypanosoma cruzi ) which is transmitted to humans through the bite of the infected reduviid bug (also called triatomine bugs), consumption of contaminated food, blood transfusion, organ transplantation and accidental laboratory exposure. It can also be passed from an infected woman to her baby during pregnancy. It is commonly found in Central and South America and Mexico and is more prevalent among the poor. The acute condition has only minor symptoms. The chronic phase can result in heart failure and death.

Symptoms

When a patient is first infected (acute phase) they can experience: body aches, fatigue, a swollen red rash, swollen eyelids, enlarged lymph nodes, fever, vomiting, headache and diarrhea. The chronic phase can appear 10 years or more after the initial infection and can result in heart racing, shortness of breath, fainting, abdominal pain, and death secondary to an abnormal heart beat or heart failure.

Tests

Common tests used for diagnosis and treatment

Workup:
A history and physical exam will be performed. Identification of the parasite will be done by a culture or by identifying antibodies against the parasite.

Tests:
Complete blood count (CBC), Electrocardiogram (EKG), X-ray

Other Specific Tests: Blood smear, blood culture, antibodies

Specialists:
Infectious Disease Medicine, Pediatric Infectious Disease Medicine

Treatment

Therapy depends on whether the patient is in the acute or chronic phase and what symptoms and the extent of the disease. Treatment includes: medications to kill the parasite (benznidazole and nifurtimox), treatment of heart failure and/or abnormal beating of the heart.