Abstract: Chagas disease, also known as American trypanosomiasis, is a tropical parasitic disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi. T. cruzi is usually spread to humans and other mammals by the bite of a conenose . The disease was first described in 1909 by Brazilian physician Carlos Chagas, after whom it is named Chagas disease is classified as a neglected tropical disease. In Argentina, the disease is known as mal de Chagas-Mazza in the honor of Salvador Mazza. Over decades with chronic Chagas disease, 30–40% of people develop organ dysfunction (determinate chronic Chagas disease), which most often affects the heart or digestive system. Symptoms vary widely based on the size and location of brain abscesses, but typically include fever, headaches, seizures, loss of sensation, or other neurological issues that indicate particular sites of nervous system damage. Occasionally, these individuals also experience acute heart inflammation, skin lesions, and disease of the stomach, intestine, or peritoneum. Elimination of T. cruzi doesn't cure the cardiac and gastrointestinal damage caused by chronic Chagas disease, so these conditions must be treated separately. To manage irregular heartbeats, people could also be prescribed anti-arrhythmic drugs like amiodarone, or have a pacemaker implanted. It was estimated that 6.2 million people, mostly in Mexico, Central America and South America, have Chagas disease as of 2017, resulting in an estimated 7,900 deaths. As of 2019, a vaccine has not been developed.

Keywords: Trypanosoma cruzi , neglected tropical disease , mal de Chagas-Mazza , organ dysfunction , peritoneum , gastrointestinal damage , amiodarone

| DOI: 10.17148/IARJSET.2021.8539