Congenital transmission of Chagas disease: a clinical approach.
Chagas disease is caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi and is an endemic zoonosis in the American continent. Thanks to the successful implementation of national programs for reducing the vectorial infestation and the strict control of blood-borne transmission of Chagas disease, the relative importance of congenital transmission has recently increased. Nowadays, in areas without vectorial transmission, congenital transmission has become the main way by which the disease has spread. This article reviews current knowledge on Chagas disease, focusing on the congenital transmission route. The public health implications of the increasing number of T. cruzi-infected immigrants and congenital transmission in nonendemic areas is also analyzed.
Oliveira
Inés
I
Barcelona International Health Research Center (CRESIB), Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Spain.
Torrico
Faustino
F
Muñoz
Jose
J
Gascon
Joaquim
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014355:Chagas Disease / Q000151:congenital* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000469:parasitology / Q000635:transmission*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007843:Latin America / Q000453:epidemiology; D009593:Nitroimidazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D055815:Young Adult
D000981:Antiprotozoal Agents; D009593:Nitroimidazoles; C009999:benzonidazole