World Chagas Disease Day

Chagas disease is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. Chagas disease is usually spread by triatomine bugs. But it can also be spread by an infected mother to her unborn baby. Chagas disease can lead to serious heart disease and, less often, death. Approximately 6–7 million people worldwide have Chagas disease. As many as 10,000 die from the disease each year.

The elimination of Chagas disease as a public health problem will only be possible if timely detection, comprehensive care, notification, and epidemiological surveillance of affected people are reinforced through primary health care.

Public Health

Public health specialists and scientists estimate that some 7 million people are infected with the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite. This is the cause of Chagas disease. They also estimate that there are more than 70 million people today who are at risk of becoming infected worldwide. Furthermore, they still estimate that every year there are more than 30,000 people in the world who are infected with this parasite (new cases). And that 12,000, very unfortunately, die from the disease. Finally, they estimate that at least 9,000 babies are born each year with the infection. It can be transmitted during pregnancy or childbirth. This can be avoided by detecting and treating carriers of Chagas infection and disease early.

This April 14, World Chagas Disease Day, recognizes that individuals and families affected by this problem demand the right to be treated in a timely manner. This starts with the first level of health care, at the primary health care level.

Primary health care with resources and training is where information and comprehensive care must be provided to affected individuals and communities. It is in the closest health centers where the barriers to timely access to diagnosis and treatment, as well as to the notification of acute and chronic cases, is bridged. This gives providers and researchers the true magnitude, rather than vague estimates, of this global health problem.

Transmission Routes of Chagas Disease

Among the different routes of transmission of the disease, and areas of concern include vectorial, oral, and congenital (mother to child) modes of transmission. The first two are the ones that have registered the most cases in Latin America. Specifically, oral transmission, can affect dozens of people at the same time. With this is a high mortality rate (10%). This is due to untimely anti-parasitic treatment.

A Low Priority in Health Care

But what worries providers the most is that Chagas disease does not have global recognition and support. Chagas disease has long ceased to be a problem exclusive to countries in Latin America, or to populations living in remote and rural communities. Up to 44 countries in the world have reported cases of Chagas disease. However, researchers still count patients by estimates without knowing exactly where and how many cases there are. Chagas disease travels as people leave their homes and villages for cities and other countries. For this reason, the number of cases is difficult to estimate.

The associations of people affected by the disease throughout the world request countries to strengthen primary care systems. This includes providing the necessary resources and training, in accordance with the resolution approved at the World Health Assembly in 2010, that urged action in this direction.

Timely detection, comprehensive care, follow-up, and notification of acute and chronic cases, epidemiological surveillance, and control of active infection transmission routes must begin at the first health care level.