Abstract

VERA DE BILBAO, N. Experiences in the treatment of Chagas disease in school-aged children of Paraguay. Mem. Inst. Investig. Cienc. Salud [online]. 2013, vol.11, n.2, pp.112-118. ISSN 1812-9528.

The references about treatment of patients with Chagas disease are scarce in our country and especially in the 6-12 years age group of children infected with T. cruzi. The Health Sciences Research Institute (IICS in Spanish) carried out two evaluation studies about treatment of school-aged children in marginal areas of Asuncion and in rural areas of Paraguay. Both studies included a basal evaluation, treatment and post-treatment evaluation of children who had positive serology for anti-T. cruzi antibodies by IIF and ELISA to comply with the infection criterion. Treatment was with benznidazole under strict medical supervision. Although the serologic negativization was not observed in hundred percent of samples, the post-treatment situation of the children in recent chronic phase of Chagas disease was characterized by the significant decrease of anti-T. cruzi antibodies and negative seroconversión in others. In the parasitological exam, negativization was obtained in both groups and good tolerance to the drug was observed. It is important to remark that the treatment provides the opportunity of reducing the appearance of cardiac and digestive lesions in the adult phase. Also, it is essential to carry out sustained public health actions from birth to adolescence as a better response to parasiticidal drugs is seen in these ages.

Keywords : Chagas disease; children, diagnosis; treatment.

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