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PAN4ND
Neglected Diseases - Chagas Disease
Neglected Diseases - Chagas Disease
Chagas Disease
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Chagas disease is a human form of trypanosomiasis (Human American
Trypanosomiasis) and occurs almost exclusively in the Americas. Transmitted to
humans by a triatomine insect containing the parasite T cruzi, the disease is
contracted through the bite of insects widely known as "the "kissing bug."
There are three stages of the disease: acute, indeterminate, and chronic. In the acute
form (in which 5% of children die), Chagas disease manifests generally as fever,
malaise, facial edema, generalized lymphadenopathy, and hepatosplenomegaly. The
acute illness often spontaneously resolves in four to six weeks, at which time patients
enter an asymptomatic, ‘indeterminate’ phase, which can last 10 years to life. The
chronic stage of Chagas disease develops in 10% to 30% of infected persons and
most commonly affects the heart. Death usually results from cardiac arrhythmia or
congestive heart failure.
The two current treatments, benznidazole (which requires 60 days of treatment in
acute infections and is only effective in 50% of cases) and nifurtimox (primarily acute &
early indeterminate stages of the disease) are very limited. There are no treatments
for indeterminate and chronic stages of the disease.
For Chagas disease, which infects approximately 8 million and puts 100 million at risk
in Central & South America, drugs are needed to treat both acute and chronic
disease, as are safer and more effective drugs adapted to patient needs (ie,
paediatric formulation).
External Links
Trypanosomiasis) and occurs almost exclusively in the Americas. Transmitted to
humans by a triatomine insect containing the parasite T cruzi, the disease is
contracted through the bite of insects widely known as "the "kissing bug."
There are three stages of the disease: acute, indeterminate, and chronic. In the acute
form (in which 5% of children die), Chagas disease manifests generally as fever,
malaise, facial edema, generalized lymphadenopathy, and hepatosplenomegaly. The
acute illness often spontaneously resolves in four to six weeks, at which time patients
enter an asymptomatic, ‘indeterminate’ phase, which can last 10 years to life. The
chronic stage of Chagas disease develops in 10% to 30% of infected persons and
most commonly affects the heart. Death usually results from cardiac arrhythmia or
congestive heart failure.
The two current treatments, benznidazole (which requires 60 days of treatment in
acute infections and is only effective in 50% of cases) and nifurtimox (primarily acute &
early indeterminate stages of the disease) are very limited. There are no treatments
for indeterminate and chronic stages of the disease.
For Chagas disease, which infects approximately 8 million and puts 100 million at risk
in Central & South America, drugs are needed to treat both acute and chronic
disease, as are safer and more effective drugs adapted to patient needs (ie,
paediatric formulation).
External Links