Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of cases of acute Chagas disease in the Peruvian amazon basin, 2009-2016

• Main Authors: Silvia Vega, Rufino Cabrera, Carlos A. Álvarez, Irene Uribe-Vilca, Silvia Guerrero-Quincho, Jenny Ancca-Juárez, Bryan Cabrera-Campos, Adela Celis-Trujillo, Margarita Zuñiga-Saca, Miguel Bernal-Fiestas, Richard Oriundo-Palomino
• Format: Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Instituto Nacional de Salud 2021-03-01
• Series: Revista Peruana de Medicina Experimental y Salud Pública
• Subjects: enfermedades transmitidas por vectores; enfermedades desatendidas; enfermedad de chagas; informes de casos; leptospirosis; fiebre; coinfección; perú
• Online Access: https://rpmesp.ins.gob.pe/index.php/rpmesp/article/view/6286
• ISSN: 1726-4634; 1726-4642

Acute Chagas disease (ACD) cases are reported sporadically in Peru. In this report we describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of eight new ACD cases detected by the surveillance system in the Amazon basin, between 2009 and 2016. The average age was 12,7 ±13.7 years, range between 1 to 44 years and 4/8 cases were men. One case was associated with acute diarrheal disease, another with Leptospirosis, and two with urinary tract infection. The global case fatality-rate was 12.5% (1/8). Late detection is a frequent characteristic related with low diagnostic suspicion in patients with a history of fever. The TcI and TcIV lineage was identified as the etiological agent of Chagas disease. Eight new cases of ACDs are reported, of which seven were children.