Chagas disease

• A
• B
• C
• D
• E
• F
• G
• H
• I
• J
• K
• L
• M
• N
• O
• P
• Q
• R
• S
• T
• U
• V
• W
• X
• Y
• Z

Antibodies

Kissing bug

American trypanosomiasis

• History of exposure in an area where Chagas disease is known to occur
• Swollen red area at site of previous insect bite
• Enlarged lymph nodes
• Swelling of one eye
• Fever
• Irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)
• Rapid heartbeat (tachycardia)
• Swallowing difficulties

• Physical examination can confirm the symptoms. It may demonstrate signs of heart failure (or cardiomyopathy ) in the chronic form.
• Peripheral blood smear demonstrates motile trypanosomes in the acute form.
• Blood culture demonstrates Trypanosoma cruzi in the acute form.
• ELISA can show past infection with Trypanosoma cruzi in the chronic form.

Review Date: 09/25/2006
Reviewed By: Charlotte Grayson, MD, Private Practice specializing in Internal Medicine and Infectious Disease, Smyrna, GA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.