Chagas disease

Chagas disease: Introduction

Chagas disease: Also called American trypanosomiasis (tri-PAN-o-SO-my-a-sis), Chagas disease is an infection caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. It is estimated ... more about Chagas disease.

Chagas disease: A parasitic infection caused by the protozoa Trypanosoma cruzi and transmitted by insect bites or blood transfusions. The disease primarily involves the heart and gastrointestinal system. More detailed information about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of Chagas disease is available below.

Symptoms of Chagas disease

• Acute form symptoms - The symptoms of the acute form may include:
  • Chagoma - erythematous nodule at the bite sites.
  • Fever - usually high fever
  • High fever
  • Anemia
• more symptoms...»

See full list of 51 symptoms of Chagas disease

Chagas disease: Complications

Review possible medical complications related to Chagas disease:

• Chronic Chagas disease - about a third of cases become chronic with delayed symptoms
• Myocarditis
• Coma
• Death
• more complications...»

Medical Textbooks Online about Chagas disease

Book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Wrongly Diagnosed with Chagas disease?

• Misdiagnosis of Chagas disease
• Failure to diagnose Chagas disease
• Undiagnosed: Chagas disease

Causes of Chagas disease

Read more about causes of Chagas disease.

Latest Treatments for Chagas disease

• Nifurtimox
• Metronidazole
• Pacemaker
• Oesophageal dilatation
• Gastrointestinal surgery
• more treatments...»

Read more about the latest treatments for Chagas disease

News Archives for Chagas disease

Medical news articles related to Chagas disease include:

• U.S. Now Leads World in Swine Flu Cases
• Mothers, Newborns at High Risk in Developing World
• Nature's Fury Makes South Most Dangerous Area in U.S.
• Cataracts World's Leading Cause of Vision Loss
• 'Real World' Examples Don't Make Math Any Easier
• more health news...»

Source: HealthDay News

Evidence Based Medicine Research for Chagas disease

Medical research articles related to Chagas disease include:

• ACC/AHA/HRS 2008 guidelines for device-based therapy of cardiac rhythm abnormalities. A report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines (Writing Committee to Revise the ACC/AHA/NASPE 2002 Guideline
• Trypanocidal drugs for late stage, symptomatic Chagas disease (Trypanosoma cruzi infection)
• Diagnosis and Treatment of Acute and Chronic Heart Failure
• Evaluation and treatment of chagas disease in the United States: a systematic review.
• Neglected diseases, civil conflicts, and the right to health.
• Insecticide-treated mosquito nets : a WHO Position Statement
• more research...»

Click here to find more evidence-based articles on the TRIP Database

Videos for Chagas disease

Patient Surveys for Chagas disease

• Patient Profile Survey
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• Survey about the symptoms of your Chagas disease
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Prognosis for Chagas disease

More about prognosis of Chagas disease

Reseach about Chagas disease

Visit our research pages for current research about Chagas disease treatments.

Clinical Trials for Chagas disease

The US based website ClinicalTrials.gov lists information on both federally and privately supported clinical trials using human volunteers.

Some of the clinical trials listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for Chagas disease include:

• The BENEFIT Trial: Evaluation of the Use of an Antiparasital Drug (Benznidazole) in the Treatment of Chronic Chagas' Disease - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - Benznidazole
• Evaluation, Treatment and Monitoring of Patients With a Known or Suspected Parasitic Infection - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• Chagas Disease as an Undiagnosed Type of Cardiomyopathy in the United States - This study has been completed (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• Genetic Architecture of Heart Disease in Rural Brazil - This study is no longer recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• Chagas Cardiomyopathy Bisoprolol Intervention Study: Charity - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - Bisoprolol
• more trials...»

See full list of 6 Clinical Trials for Chagas disease

Statistics for Chagas disease

• Medical statistics for Chagas disease
• Prevalence and incidence statistics for Chagas disease
• Death and Mortality statistics for Chagas disease
• Society statistics for Chagas disease

Chagas disease: Broader Related Topics

• Parasitic Conditions
• Protozoan Conditions
• more types...»

Types of Chagas disease

Types of Chagas disease

• Acute Chagas disease
• Chronic Chagas disease - about a third of cases become chronic
• more types...»

Read more about Types of Chagas disease

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User Interactive Forums

Read about other experiences, ask a question about Chagas disease, or answer someone else's question, on our message boards:

• I can not get a diagnosis. Please help.
• Tell us your medical story.
• Share your misdiagnosis story.
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Article Excerpts about Chagas disease

Also called American trypanosomiasis (tri-PAN-o-SO-my-a-sis), Chagas disease is an infection caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. It is estimated that 16-18 million people are infected with Chagas disease; of those infected, 50,000 will die each year. (Source: excerpt from Chagas Disease: DPD)

Definitions of Chagas disease:

The agent of South American trypanosomiasis or CHAGAS DISEASE. Its vertebrate hosts are man and various domestic and wild animals. Insects of several species are vectors. - (Source - Diseases Database)

Chagas disease is listed as a "rare disease" by the Office of Rare Diseases (ORD) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This means that Chagas disease, or a subtype of Chagas disease, affects less than 200,000 people in the US population.
Source - National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Ophanet, a consortium of European partners, currently defines a condition rare when it affects 1 person per 2,000. They list Chagas disease as a "rare disease".
Source - Orphanet