Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, presents a diagnostic challenge due to its protean manifestations that mimic several other systemic disorders. This article provides a comprehensive examination of the differential diagnoses that must be considered during both acute and chronic phases, including infectious, cardiac, neurological, and gastrointestinal mimics. Prognostic outcomes are strongly influenced by the timing of diagnosis and therapeutic intervention, with early identification in the acute phase offering a more favorable prognosis compared to the chronic form, where irreversible cardiomyopathy and gastrointestinal complications predominate. The most significant complications include congestive heart failure, megacolon, and megaesophagus, with rarer manifestations such as meningoencephalitis and cerebral abscesses posing additional diagnostic dilemmas. Effective care requires multidisciplinary collaboration, including infectious disease specialists, cardiologists, gastroenterologists, nurses, pharmacists, and public health professionals. Prevention through community education, vector control, and blood screening, alongside healthcare worker training, remains paramount. This article synthesizes evidence-based approaches to enhance diagnosis, treatment adherence, patient education, and long-term care, ultimately reducing the burden of this neglected tropical disease.
BT - Uva Clinical Research Lab 2025 DA - 06/2025 LA - ENG M3 - Article N2 -Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, presents a diagnostic challenge due to its protean manifestations that mimic several other systemic disorders. This article provides a comprehensive examination of the differential diagnoses that must be considered during both acute and chronic phases, including infectious, cardiac, neurological, and gastrointestinal mimics. Prognostic outcomes are strongly influenced by the timing of diagnosis and therapeutic intervention, with early identification in the acute phase offering a more favorable prognosis compared to the chronic form, where irreversible cardiomyopathy and gastrointestinal complications predominate. The most significant complications include congestive heart failure, megacolon, and megaesophagus, with rarer manifestations such as meningoencephalitis and cerebral abscesses posing additional diagnostic dilemmas. Effective care requires multidisciplinary collaboration, including infectious disease specialists, cardiologists, gastroenterologists, nurses, pharmacists, and public health professionals. Prevention through community education, vector control, and blood screening, alongside healthcare worker training, remains paramount. This article synthesizes evidence-based approaches to enhance diagnosis, treatment adherence, patient education, and long-term care, ultimately reducing the burden of this neglected tropical disease.
PB - Uva Clinical Research Lab 2025 PY - 2025 SP - 1 EP - 20 T2 - Uva Clinical Research Lab 2025 TI - Chagas Disease: Differential Diagnosis, Prognostic Stratification, Complications, and Management Strategies UR - https://d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net/123158412/Chagas_Disease_Differential_Diagnosis_Prognostic_Stratification_Complications_and_Management_Strategies-libre.pdf?1749243691=&response-content-disposition=inline%3B+filename%3DChagas_Disease_Differential_Dia ER -