Chagas disease

Introduction: Chagas disease

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

See full list of 51 symptoms of Chagas disease

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

Causes of Chagas disease

Read more about causes of Chagas disease.

Videos for Chagas disease

Patient Surveys for 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

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

Types of Chagas disease

• Acute Chagas disease
• Chronic Chagas disease - about a third of cases become chronic

Read more about Types of Chagas disease

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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