Journal of Infectious Diseases & Preventive Medicine
Open Access

Abstract

Epidemiological Aspects of Chagas Disease - A Review

Shyamapada Mandal

Chagas disease (ChD), also known as American trypanosomiasis, is caused by the trypanosomatid protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi) that in its natural life-cycle is transmitted through triatomine vectors. Parasitological studies are useful to confirm acute cases, while the diagnosis of chronic T. cruzi infection relies on serological methods. There is no vaccine to prevent the infection, and the treatment is restricted to nifurtimox and benznidazole; and hence, new effective drugs with lower side-effects are urgently needed. The current review updates the facts and phenomena related to ChD, which is becoming an emerging health problem in non-endemic areas too, making the disease a grave global concern.