Chagas disease: clinical overview and implications for nursing.
Chagas disease, an infection caused by a protozoan parasite and previously endemic to Mexico and Central and South America, is becoming more prevalent in the United States and Canada. Because nurses and physicians in health care settings may be the first to encounter undiagnosed cases of Chagas disease, it is essential that public health personnel and health care providers in general become more familiar with the disease, including its incidence and prevalence, clinical manifestations, diagnostic criteria, treatment options, and implications for nursing.
Lennox
Heather A
HA
London Health Sciences Centre, University Hospital, Emergency Department, London, Ontario, Canada.
Karcz
Debbie A
DA
Tales
Heather
H
El Masri
Maher
M
D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy* / Q000635:transmission; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004641:Emigration and Immigration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007159:Immunologic Tests / Q000379:methods; D015994:Incidence; D007300:Insect Control; D007303:Insect Vectors / Q000469:parasitology; D009547:Nifurtimox / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009593:Nitroimidazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015995:Prevalence; D011322:Primary Prevention; D012307:Risk Factors; D013020:South America / Q000453:epidemiology; D014195:Travel; D014224:Triatoma / Q000469:parasitology; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D009593:Nitroimidazoles; D014344:Trypanocidal Agents; D009547:Nifurtimox; C009999:benzonidazole