Angie Pinto1, Sarah Pett, Yves Jackson. 1. BSc, MBBS, MPH&TM, FRACP, FRCPA The Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Applied Medical Research Unit and HIV, Immunology and Infectious Diseases Service, St. Vincent's Hospital, Sydney.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Chagas disease, a parasitic infection by Trypanosoma cruzi, is endemic in Latin America and affects 8-10 million people. It is a major emerging infection in Europe and the USA. The routes of transmission include congenital, vectorial means and through unscreened blood or organ donation. Potentially fatal complications include cardiomyopathy with conduction abnormality, arrhythmia, thromboembolic cerebrovascular events and digestive tract involvement (mega-syndrome). OBJECTIVE: We describe a case, the second reported in Australia, and provide readers with updated guidelines on the clinical management of Chagas disease. DISCUSSION: Treatment affords optimal results when applied early in the course of the disease. General practitioners are best placed to play a central part in the early identification and referral of infected individuals. Indeed, the decades-long asymptomatic latent period between infection and overt clinical manifestation provides an ideal context for screening and implementation of early effective interventions.
BACKGROUND:Chagas disease, a parasitic infection by Trypanosoma cruzi, is endemic in Latin America and affects 8-10 million people. It is a major emerging infection in Europe and the USA. The routes of transmission include congenital, vectorial means and through unscreened blood or organ donation. Potentially fatal complications include cardiomyopathy with conduction abnormality, arrhythmia, thromboembolic cerebrovascular events and digestive tract involvement (mega-syndrome). OBJECTIVE: We describe a case, the second reported in Australia, and provide readers with updated guidelines on the clinical management of Chagas disease. DISCUSSION: Treatment affords optimal results when applied early in the course of the disease. General practitioners are best placed to play a central part in the early identification and referral of infected individuals. Indeed, the decades-long asymptomatic latent period between infection and overt clinical manifestation provides an ideal context for screening and implementation of early effective interventions.
Authors: Bruno F C Lucchetti; Nágela G Zanluqui; Hiviny de Ataides Raquel; Maria I Lovo-Martins; Vera L H Tatakihara; Mônica de Oliveira Belém; Lisete C Michelini; Eduardo J de Almeida Araújo; Phileno Pinge-Filho; Marli C Martins-Pinge Journal: Front Physiol Date: 2017-05-18 Impact factor: 4.566
Authors: Fred Luciano Neves Santos; Ana Clara Paixão Campos; Leila Denise Alves Ferreira Amorim; Edimilson Domingos Silva; Nilson Ivo Tonin Zanchin; Paola Alejandra Fiorani Celedon; Rodrigo Pimenta Del-Rei; Marco Aurélio Krieger; Yara Miranda Gomes Journal: Am J Trop Med Hyg Date: 2018-11 Impact factor: 2.345