Chagas Disease Creeping into Family Practice in the United States

Chagas disease, a parasitic infection, is increasingly being detected in the United States, most likely due to immigration from endemic countries in South and Central America. Approximately 300,000 persons in the US have chronic Chagas disease, and up to 30% of them will develop clinically evident cardiovascular and/or gastrointestinal disease. Here’s practical guidance to help you recognize the features of symptomatic Chagas disease and follow up with appropriate evaluation and management.

Educational objectives:

• Understand the prevalence and risks of Chagas disease in the United States.
• Explain the pathophysiology of Chagas disease, including the vector and transmission routes of the disease. '
• Describe the clinical presentation of both the acute and chronic forms of the disease and learn when to suspect an infection.
• Outline a plan for diagnosis and treatment of Chagas disease.
• Educate women with Chagas disease about the risk for transmission to future offspring.