Chagas
Chagas disease is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which is transmitted to humans by blood-sucking bugs. The majority of those infected show no signs or symptoms at the time of infection, and the symptoms can go unnoticed for many years. Ultimately, debilitating chronic symptoms develop in approximately one-third of people infected, with heart failure being the most common complication. and cause of death for adults. Chagas disease is endemic in 21 countries in Latin America, with up to 8-10 million cases globally, resulting in an estimated 12,500 annual deaths
Diagnosis and Treatment
Diagnosis and Treatment
Diagnosing Chagas disease is complicated, as medical staff need to perform two or three blood tests to establish a firm result. But new rapid diagnostic tests are now being evaluated in the field by MSF.
There are currently only two medicines to fight the disease; benznidazole and nifurtimox, both developed over 35 years ago. Neither of these drugs cannot be used by pregnant women. A pediatric formulation of benznidazole was made available in December 2011.
The success rate with these medicines is almost 100 percent in newborns and infants. But for older children, adolescents and adults, current treatment has limited efficacy, that can not be assessed precisely in the absence of a test of cure. Treatment has multiple side effects in adults. It therefore has to be taken under medical supervision.
As the side effects of the treatment are more common in older patients, doctors have been reluctant to administer the medicine to adults with the disease. We now know that the adverse effects of these drugs are actually manageable and adults can be treated.
Access Challenges
As the side effects of the treatment are more common in older patients, doctors have been reluctant to administer the medicine to adults with the disease. We now know that the adverse effects of these drugs are actually manageable and adults can be treated.
Access Challenges
Needed: Better access to existing methods of diagnosis and treatment, including through routine testing and diagnosis of the disease at primary care level in endemic areas.
Needed: Better medical tools. The production and availability of the two existing drugs, benznidazole and nifurtimox, must be secured, while R&D into easy-to-use, less toxic, affordable medicines to treat patients in all stages of the disease is needed.
Needed: A test of cure. A diagnostic test that can confirm the success of the treatment being used is urgently needed. This will also help measure the efficacy of new treatments during the R&D process.
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