Question

Answer the following about Chagas disease

Interventions: Describe possible treatments and/or medical interventions. Is there a vaccine available? How can the disease be best prevented or kept under control?

Answer 1

Answer :

Chagas disease is more commonly known as American trypanosomiasis. It is a life-threatening disease caused by the Protozoan blood parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. Its mode of transmission is through vectors - triatomine bugs (kissing bugs). This disease presents itself in two phases - acute and chronic. The acute phase shows mild and unspecific signs and symptoms. In the chronic phase, patients usually suffer from cardiac disorders and sometimes they present with digestive and neurological alterations. This disease may cause death due to progressive heart failure in extreme cases.

The causative parasite can be detected by microscopic examination of anticoagulated blood or by PCR.
To kill the causative parasite, Benznidazole and Nifurtimox are effective drugs if given at an early stage of infection or at the onset of the acute phase.
For the Chronic phase, the treatments for this disease are still under research and study. Currently, Fexinidazole is an anti-parasitic drug which is approved for treating this disease and has shown its effectiveness in animal models.

Currently, there is no vaccine for Chagas disease. The potential of DNA vaccines to be effective in preventing this diease is ongoing research.

The prevention methods are aimed at decreasing the spread of this disease.

• Blood transfusion screening methods have already helped a lot in preventing Chagas disease.
• Insecticide spraying has controlled the main vector responsible for spread of trypanosomiasis.
• Use of personal hygiene methods and bed nets while sleeping have also contributed to the control and prevention of this disease.
• Improvement of medical facilities and infrastructure specially in the areas where it is endemic  helps prevent further spread of the disease.
• Screening of pregnant women before childbirth and providing treatment if infected prevents the child from getting the same disease.