Congenital Chagas disease due to acute maternal Trypanosoma cruzi infection transmitted by the oral route

ABSTRACT A family of four, including a 24-year-old female, presented to our laboratory in December 2006 with a prolonged febrile syndrome of unknown etiology. After extensive laboratory screening, acute Chagas disease was confirmed by positive T. cruzi blood culture, combined with...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Pinto, Ana Yecê das Neves, Valente, Vera da Costa, Valente, Sebastião Aldo da Silva, Figueiras, Amira Consuelo de Melo
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2011
País:Brasil
Institución:Instituto Evandro Chagas (IEC)
Repositorio:Revista Pan-Amazônica de Saúde (RPAS)
Idioma:inglés
portugués
español
OAI Identifier:oai:revista.iec.gov.br:article/1036
Acceso en línea:https://ojs.iec.gov.br/rpas/article/view/1036
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Chagas disease
Infectious disease Transmission, Vertica
Trypanocidal Agents
Doença de Chagas
Transmissão Vertical de Doença Infecciosa
Tripanossomicidas
Enfermedad de Chagas
Transmisión Vertical de Enfermedad Infecciosa
Agentes Tripanocidas
Descripción
Sumario:ABSTRACT A family of four, including a 24-year-old female, presented to our laboratory in December 2006 with a prolonged febrile syndrome of unknown etiology. After extensive laboratory screening, acute Chagas disease was confirmed by positive T. cruzi blood culture, combined with clinical, epidemiological and serological findings. The young female, her parents and husband received a daily dose of benznidazole, but she developed serious drug intolerance and amenorrhea. Her treatment was interrupted by a confirmed pregnancy of about 12 weeks of gestational age. The child was born prematurely on April 18, 2007 with low weight and signs of respiratory distress syndrome. Diagnostic screening tests for congenital infections, including Chagas disease, were negative during the perinatal period. About four months after birth, clinical findings generated the following clinical indicators of congenital disease: convergent strabismus, microcephaly and delayed psychomotor development. Serological tests confirmed seroconversion, and magnetic resonance findings included cystic lesions and intracranial calcifications. The authors discuss the critical nature of this serious public health problem in the region and suggest necessary revisions to the recommended treatment for pregnant patients with acute Chagas disease.