Chagas disease

Alternative names:

American trypanosomiasis

Treatment:

No specific therapy is presently available. Experimental treatment may include nifurtimox.

Expectations (prognosis):

Approximately 1 out of 5 infected people will develop chronic symptomatic Chagas disease.

Complications:

• cardiomyopathy
• congestive heart failure
• enlargement of the esophagus (megaesophagus) with swallowing difficulty

Calling your health care provider:

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if symptoms suggestive of Chagas disease develop.