Chagas' disease
From Ganfyd
Chagas' disease (American trypanosomiasis) is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi a protozoan transmitted by blood sucking insects of the genus Triatoma such as the kissing bug Triatoma infestans.
Web Resources for Chagas' disease
ICD 10 code: B57
Relevant Clinical Literature
UK Guidance
Other Wikis
Medpedia on Chagas' disease (Less technical, good quality control)
Wikipedia on Chagas' disease (Less technical, ? quality control)
Contents |
Presentation
- Insidious usually
- Symptoms can appear 1—2 weeks after triatomine bug bites, usually a few months after infected blood transfusion
- Over 90% the settle, most having positive serum antibodies against Trypanosoma cruzi, normal ECG, and normal findings in chest, oesophagus, and colon
- 30 to 40% develop after 15 to 30 years the determinate chronic disease
- Reactivation of Chagas' disease can occur in the immunologically compromised
- Chagas' cardiomyopathy
- Right bundle branch block or left anterior hemiblock usually first
- Biventricular failure
- LV apical aneurysm
- Arrhythmias
- Dysphagia (Chagas' megaoesophagus)
- Constipation ((Chagas' megacolon)
- Occasionally acute with severe life threatening illness (perhaps 5-10%)
- Menginoencephalitis
- Fulminant myocarditis
Diagnosis
- Acute
- Blood film for trypomastigotes
- Congenital
- Microhaematocrit
- Chronic
- Serology and clinical
Treatment
- Prevention (ie vector control by insecticides and environment)
- Mainly symptomatic but:
- Benznidazole for 60 days eliminates infection in 60% infected children [1]
- Nifurtimox also has an evolving place in therapy.
References
- ↑ Maguire JH. Chagas' disease--can we stop the deaths? The New England journal of medicine. 2006;355:760-1. (Direct link – subscription may be required.)
