Estudio transversal clínico y epidemiológico de la enfermedad de Chagas en una área rural del Nordeste Argentino / Clinical cross-sectional and epidemiologic study of Chagas disease in a rural area of the Argentinian northeast

Esta investigación tiene por objeto analizar las características epidemiológicas, clínicas, electrocardiográficas y radiológicas de una población de seropositivos y seronegativos al Trypanosoma cruzi en una área rural del Departamento San Miguel, provincia de Corrientes, Argentina. Se seleccionaron 132 pobladores (58 hombres y 74 mujeres) de todos los grupos etareos para la realización de un examen clínico y cardiovascular. Se registraron síntomas y signos compatibles con afección cardíaca, tensión arterial, electrocardiograma de 12 derivaciones y radiografía anteroposterior de tórax. En la signo-sintomatología, anomalías electrocardiográficas y en las alteraciones radiográficas detectadas, no se observaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre seropositivos y seronegativos. Se concluye que si bien en la población objeto de estudio la infección chagásica no se asoció a mayor prevalencia de cardiopatía, cabe destacar que los pacientes chagásicos pertenecían a un grupo etareo muy joven con un 54,0% de ellos menores de 20 años y que el 45,0% de los pacientes mayores de 41 años tenían alteraciones electrocardiográficas.

The main goal was to know the epidemiologic, clinical, electrocardiographic and radiologic characteristics among a population of seropositives and seronegatives to Trypanosoma cruzi in a rural area of the Department of San Miguel, province of Corrientes, Argentina. One hundred and thirty-two patients of different ages: 2-79 years old were researched (58 males, 74 females). In order to make a thorough assessment clinical evaluation and cardiologic testing were carried out. Signs and symptoms consistent with heart disease, blood pressure, 12-lead ECG registry and chest x-ray (PA view) were registered. In signs and symptoms, abnormal ECG patterns and radiologic abnormalities, non-significant statistic difference were observed. Although we were unable to find a significant relationship between chagasic infection and a higher prevalence for heart disease, it is important to stress the fact that 54.0% of the studied population was largely composed of very young patients whose ages were less than 20 years old, and 45.0% of those older than 41 years showed ECG abnormalities.

Infestacion domestica por Triatoma infestans y prevalencia de seropositivos al Trypanosoma cruzi en un area rural del nordeste argentino / Domestic infestation by Triatoma infestans and prevalence of seropositives to Trypanosoma cruzi in a rural population of the Northeast of Argentina

An epidemiological study was carried out from April 1991 to December 1993 to obtain a general view of T. cruzi domestic transmission in rural areas of San Miguei Department, Corrientes. From 100 analyzed households, 50.0 per cent was infested by T infestans (Klug, 1834) and 1.0 per cent by T. sordida (Stal, 1859). Domiciliary colonization by T. sordida is reported for first time in Corrientes province. T. cruzi infection of T. infestans was 23.1 per cent. Indirect hemagglutination and indirect immunofluorescence antibody tests were used for detection of anti T. cruzi antibodies in 388 human sera, 23.4 per cent showed serological reactivity. An important high rate (12.9 per cent) was observed in the age group of higher transmission risk. Seropositives percentages increased with age and reached 50.0 per cent in 31-40 years old group. Domestic infestation by T. infestans, seropositive human prevalence to T. cruzi and householders precarious life conditions prove that this endemic disease is still a problem in the studied area.