Emerging acute Chagas Disease in Amazonian Brazil: case reports with serious cardiac involvement

Four cases of serious cardiac attacks by autochthonous Trypanosoma cruzi infection from the Brazilian Amazon are reported; three of them occurred in micro-epidemic episodes. The manifestations included sudden fever, myalgia, dyspnea and signs of heart failure. Diagnosis was confirmed by specific exams, especially QBC (Quantitative Buffy Coat) and natural xenodiagnosis. Despite treatment with benznidazol, three patients died with serious myocarditis, renal failure and cardiac tamponade. The authors call attention to the emergence of this disease and reveal a previously unknown pathogenicity of T. cruzi strains in this area, added to a non-usual transmission form.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Pinto,Ana Yecê das Neves, Valente,Sebastião Aldo da Silva, Valente,Vera da Costa
Format: Digital revista
Language:English
Published: Brazilian Society of Infectious Diseases 2004
Online Access:http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1413-86702004000600010
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!