       Document 0487
 DOCN  M9640487
 TI    Congenital Chagas' disease: diagnostic and clinical aspects.
 DT    9604
 AU    Freilij H; Altcheh J; Parasitology Laboratory, Ricardo Gutierrez
       Children's Hospital,; Buenos Aires, Argentina.
 SO    Clin Infect Dis. 1995 Sep;21(3):551-5. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/96077372
 AB    The diagnostic and clinical aspects of congenital Chagas' disease were
       studied in 71 children in Buenos Aires. The children's ages ranged from
       2 days to 10 years. In infants < 6 months old, the disease was diagnosed
       by detection of Trypanosoma cruzi in the blood; the microhematocrit test
       was positive in 38 (97.4%) of 39 cases. This test was the fastest and
       most reliable diagnostic method in this group, whereas two conventional
       serological methods were useful in children > or = 6 months of age.
       Forty-six (64.8%) of the 71 children had no clinical signs of infection.
       The clinical sign most frequently documented was hepatomegaly (18.3%).
       Three children were coinfected with human immunodeficiency virus; the
       latter infection was severe in two instances. Nifurtimox (10-15
       mg/[kg.d] for 2 months) was used for parasiticidal treatment, and use of
       this drug resulted in mild adverse effects.
 DE    Animal  Antibodies, Protozoan/BLOOD  Argentina  Chagas
       Disease/*CONGENITAL/DIAGNOSIS/DRUG THERAPY  Child  Child, Preschool
       Disease Transmission, Vertical  Female  Human  Infant  Infant, Newborn
       Male  Nifurtimox/ADVERSE EFFECTS/THERAPEUTIC USE  Parasitemia/DIAGNOSIS
       Pregnancy  Serodiagnosis  Trypanocidal Agents/ADVERSE
       EFFECTS/THERAPEUTIC USE  Trypanosoma cruzi/IMMUNOLOGY/ISOLATION & PURIF
       JOURNAL ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).

