Chagasic Cardiopathy in a child: Case Report

Abstract

Introduction. Chagas disease also known as American Trypanosomiasis is mainly caused by haematophagous insects that are widely distributed from Mexico to Argentina. According to the Panamerican Health Organization, 7.7 to 10 million people are living with chronic infection. Chagas disease is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, a protozoan transmitted by triatomine vectors. After an initial acute phase, Chagas is followed by a silent phase that lasts 15-20 years before debuting with cardiac, neurological or gastrointestinal manifestations.

Objetive. To analyze the atypical clinical course of chagasic cardiopathy in a pediatric patient from southern Mexico.

Case Report. The patient was treated when he developed a chagoma in his left leg. Five months later in his electrocardiogram there was evidence of sinus tachycardia and left atrium distension with P wave enlargement and prolonged QT interval. The thorax radiography showed cardiomegaly (Cardio-thoracic index=0.52); the trans-thoracic echocardiogram showed left atrial and ventricular distention.

Conclusion. It is important to develop early cardiac evaluations even in pediatric patients with Chagas disease, it should not be assumed that the patients will undergo a long asymptomatic phase or that they will not develop an early cardiopathy.