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Chagas disease
Chagas disease, also known as American trypanosomiasis, is a tropical parasitic disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi
Prevalence
Age of Onset
ICD-10
N/A
Inheritance
This condition does not appear to have a clear pattern of inheritance.
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Chagas disease, also known as American trypanosomiasis, is a tropical parasitic disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi. It is spread mostly by insects in the subfamily Triatominae, known as "kissing bugs". The symptoms change over the course of the infection. In the early stage, symptoms are typically either not present or mild, and may include fever, swollen lymph nodes, headaches, or swelling at the site of the bite. An estimated 8 million people are infected with Trypanosoma cruzi worldwide, mainly in Latin America where Chagas disease remains one of the biggest public health problems, causing incapacity in infected individuals and more than 10,000 deaths per year.†
5 Facts you should know
FACT
A tropical parasitic disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi
FACT
It is spread mostly by insects known as Triatominae, or "kissing bugs"
FACT
In the early stage, symptoms are typically either not present or mild, and may include fever, swollen lymph nodes, headaches, or swelling at the site of the bite
FACT
The disease may also be spread through blood transfusion, organ transplantation, eating food contaminated with the parasites, and vertical transmission
FACT
Up to 45% of people with chronic infection develop heart disease 10–30 years after the initial illness, which can lead to heart failure
Interest over time
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Common signs & symptoms
Abdominal pain
Pain in stomach
Cardiomyopathy
Disease of the heart muscle
Dyspnea
Trouble breathing
Localized skin lesion
Arrhythmia
Abnormal heart rate
Diarrhea
Watery stool
Hepatomegaly
Periorbital edema
Current treatments
Benznidazole
(Brand name: Benznidazole) Manufactured by Chemo Research, S.L.
FDA-approved indication: For use in children ages 2 to 12 years old with Chagas disease
Nifurtimox
(Brand name: LAMPIT) Manufactured by Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals
FDA-approved indication: Lampit® (nifurtimox) is an antiprotozoal medication indicated for use in pediatric patients (from birth to less than 18 years of age and weighing at least 2.5 kg) for the treatment of Chagas disease (American Trypanosomiasis) caused by Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi).
Top Clinical Trials
| Title | Description | Phases | Status | Interventions | Locations | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Short-course Benznidazole Treatment to Reduce Trypanosoma Cruzi Parasitic Load in Women of Reproductive Age | The investigators are proposing to perform a double-blinded, non-inferiority randomized controlled trial comparing a short 30-day treatment with BZN 150mg/day (30d/150mg) vs. a 60-day treatment with BZN 300 mg/day (60d/300mg). | Phase 3 | Recruiting | Drug: Benznidazole|Drug: Placebo Oral Tablet | University of California at San Diego, San Diego, California, United States|Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States|Institute for Clinical Effectiveness and Health Policy, Buenos Aires, Argentina | More Information |
Top Treatments in Research
At the time this analysis was conducted, there were no treatments in development for this disease.
† Centers for Disease Control and Prevention