Chagas Cardiomyopathy: Clinical Presentation and Management in the Americas

Abstract

The initial infection of Chagas disease is typically asymptomatic, but approximately 30% of people will progress to a chronic cardiac form, and others develop the gastrointestinal form. Death is often sudden due to arrhythmias or progressive heart failure. Prevention through vector control programs and blood bank screening, along with strengthened surveillance systems and rapid information sharing, are key to decreasing disease burden globally. The epidemiology, diagnostic evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of acute and chronic Chagas cardiac disease are discussed with focus on educating the primary care professionals and general cardiologists in nonendemic areas who have limited experience treating this disease.

Keywords: Cardiomyopathy; Chagas disease; Epidemiology; Neglected diseases; Trypanocidal agents.