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 #Chagas #Disease #American #trypanosomiasis #Diagnosis #Management #Microbiology #InfectiousDiseases
