Acute Pediatric Chagas Disease in Antioquia, Colombia: A Geographic Location of Suspected Oral Transmission

Chagas disease, <i>Trypanosoma cruzi</i> infection, is an insidious cause of heart failure in Latin America. Early diagnosis and treatment are critical to prevent irreversible myocardial damage that progressively accumulates over decades. Several structural barriers account for the less...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Lídia Gual-Gonzalez, Catalina Arango-Ferreira, Laura Camila Lopera-Restrepo, Omar Cantillo-Barraza, Daniela Velásquez Marín, Natalia Restrepo Bustamante, Omar Triana-Chavez, Melissa S. Nolan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-12-01
Series:Microorganisms
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/10/1/8
Description
Summary:Chagas disease, <i>Trypanosoma cruzi</i> infection, is an insidious cause of heart failure in Latin America. Early diagnosis and treatment are critical to prevent irreversible myocardial damage that progressively accumulates over decades. Several structural barriers account for the less than 1% of cases in Colombia being treated, including poor physician knowledge, especially considering that some regions are considered non-endemic. The two cases reported here represent an emerging epidemiologic scenario associated with pediatric Chagas disease. Both cases are suspected oral transmitted parasitic infection in a geographic region of Colombia (Andean region of Antioquia) where no previous oral transmission of Chagas disease had been reported. Their clinical histories and course of disease are presented here to increase physician awareness of the epidemiologic risk factors and clinical manifestations associated with pediatric oral Chagas disease in Antioquia department, Colombia.
ISSN:2076-2607