Chagas disease in Guatemala: Prevalence and transmission
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https://doi.org/10.54495/Rev.Cientifica.v9i1.392Keywords:
Chagas disease, Guatemala, prevalence, transmissionAbstract
Chagas disease, also known as American trypanosomiasis, is considered one of the most important public health problems in Central and South America. It is a disease that affects humans and other mammals and is characterized by affecting the rural population with limited economic resources. Cases have been reported from southern Texas (United States) to Patagonia (South America). The latest reports from the World Health Organization indicate that approximately 15-20 million inhabitants of rural and urban areas suffer from this disease and that around 65 million are at risk of acquiring it.
The etiological agent of the disease is the flagellated protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, which is found in human and animal reservoirs. This parasite is transmitted in most cases to humans and other mammals by treatomine bugs of the Reduvidae family, which, by sucking blood from the host, defecate, thus eliminating the parasite. It can also be transmitted transplacentally, through transfusion of contaminated blood or through transplantation of contaminated organs.
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Copyright (c) 1993 R. Matta, L. Vivian
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