Chagas Disease (American trypanosomiasis) - Diagnosis and Management Summary

Acute Chagas Disease (8-12 weeks):

 • Mild: Malaise, fever and anorexia. Romana Sing (unilateral swelling of the upper and lower eyelid).

 • Severe: Only 1%. Acute myocarditis, pericardial effusion, meningoencephalitis (Elderly and pregnant)

 • Diagnosis: Trypomastigotes detectable by blood smears (only with high parasitemia). PCR is gold standard.

 • Treatment: Benznidazole (first line) and Nifurtimox

Chronic Chagas Disease (>3 months):

 • Diagnosis: Chronic disease is confirmed by IgG T. cruzi. PCR not useful for chronic infection.

 • "Determinate Disease": T. cruzi + clinical evidence of cardiac, digestive or cardiodigestive involvement

 • "Indeterminate Disease": T.cruzi without clinical evidence of cardiac or gastrointestinal disease.



By @TheIDtrivia



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