Advanced megaesophagus (Group III) secondary to vector-borne Chagas disease in a 20-month-old infant

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
• Main Authors: Anis Rassi, Joffre Marcondes de Rezende, Anis Rassi Junior
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT) 2012
• Subjects: Lactente; Megaesôfago (Grupo III); Doença de Chagas vetorial; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/S0037-86822012000200026; https://doaj.org/article/14cb2936bf7e4346b5db3e779fb9299d

The authors report the case of a female infant with Group III (or Grade III) megaesophagus secondary to vector-borne Chagas disease, resulting in severe malnutrition that reversed after surgery (Heller technique). The infant was then treated with the antiparasitic drug benznidazole, and the infection was cured, as demonstrated serologically and parasitologically. After follow-up of several years without evidence of disease, with satisfactory weight and height development, the patient had her first child at age 23, in whom serological tests for Chagas disease yielded negative results. Thirty years after the initial examination, the patient's electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, and chest radiography remained normal.