CHAGAS-DISEASE

Chagas' disease is one of the most important public health problems in South America and Mexico. Migrations from rural areas into urban zone s have contributed to the spread of the disease. The main targets of t he disease within the body are the heart, the alimentary tract, and th e nervous system. In the acute phase of the disease, the parasite resp onsible for the disease can be identified in the blood by direct exami nation. This article identifies the parasite responsible for transmiss ion of the disease and discusses symptoms, means of identification in the patient, and treatment.