On Chagas Disease

Q: Chagas disease can be congenital.

A) True

B) False

Answer: A

Although the risk is only 10 percent, infected mothers can pass protozoan parasites to newborns. Most congenital infections are asymptomatic or cause nonspecific signs but may show signs of acute Trypanosoma cruzi infection. A mother with such a history of infection should be tested. Ideally, all mothers should be tested in the endemic areas. All children of infected mothers should be tested.

These mothers have a higher chance of premature rupture of membranes and other obstetric complications.

                  

Acute infection in newborns is s manifested by low birthweight, anemia, and hераtοѕрlеոоmegаly. In severe cases, mеոiոgοеոϲеphalitis and/or respiratory insufficiency may occur, which is usually fatal.

#ID

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References:

1. Bern C, Verastegui M, Gilman RH, et al. Congenital Trypanosoma cruzi transmission in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Clin Infect Dis 2009; 49:1667.

2. Torrico F, Alonso-Vega C, Suarez E, et al. Maternal Trypanosoma cruzi infection, pregnancy outcome, morbidity, and mortality of congenitally infected and non-infected newborns in Bolivia. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2004; 70:201.

3. Howard EJ, Xiong X, Carlier Y, et al. Frequency of the congenital transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BJOG 2014; 121:22.

4. Messenger LA, Miles MA, Bern C. Between a bug and a hard place: Trypanosoma cruzi genetic diversity and the clinical outcomes of Chagas disease. Expert Rev Anti Infect Ther 2015; 13:995.