High seroconversion rates in Trypanosoma cruzi chronic infection treated with benznidazole in people under 16 years in Guatemala

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Geographical, epidemiological, and environmental differences associated with therapeutic response to Chagas etiological treatment have been previously discussed. This study describes high seroconversion rates 72 months after benznidazole treatment in patients under 16 years from a project implemented by Doctors without Borders in Guatemala. METHODS: An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect Trypanosoma cruzi IgG antibodies in capillary blood samples from patients 72 months after treatment. Fisher's exact test was used to establish association between characteristics, such as sex, age, and origin of patients, and final seroconversion. Kappa index determined concordance between laboratory tests. The level of significance was set to 5%. RESULTS: Ninety-eight patients, aged 6 months to 16 years, were available for follow-up. Sex and origin were not associated with seroconversion. Individuals older than 13 were more prone to maintain a positive result 72 months after treatment, although results were not highly significant. Laboratory tests presented elevated Kappa concordance (95% CI) = 0.8290 (0.4955-1), as well as high (97%) seroconversion rates. CONCLUSIONS: The high seroconversion rate found in this study emphasizes the importance of access to diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of individuals affected by Chagas disease. Moreover, it contradicts the idea that it is not possible to achieve a cure with the currently available drugs. This study strongly supports expanding programs for patients infected with T. cruzi in endemic and non-endemic countries.

Análisis morfológico y métricos craneofaciales, mandibulares y dentales de cadáveres humanos en reducción esquelética / Morphological and metric craniofacial, mandibular and dental analysis of human cadavers in skeletal reduction

La finalidad de esta investigación es realizar una revisión bibliográfica ya que este estudio se clasifica como una investigación documental sobre los análisis morfológicos y métricos cráneo­faciales, mandibulares y dentales para la identificación de cadáveres humanos en reducción esquelética en la determinación en cuanto a la edad, sexo y afinidad Biológica (raza). Para tal propósito en esta búsqueda documental se utilizó la recopilación de información a través de revisiones bibliográficas, el uso de Internet, revistas, fotografías, entrevistas, conferencias, seminarios, cursos y videos que enriquecieron la investigación. Por medio de todo esto se han seleccionado tablas y cuadros como información suficiente para poder concluir que con dichos cuadros puede llegar a identificarse cadáveres humanos en reducción esquelética por medio de los análisis antes mencionados.

The purpose of this research is to carry out a bibliographic review since this study is classified as a documentary investigation on the morphological and metric analyzes of the skull-facial, mandibular and dental for the identification of human corpses in skeletal reduction in the determination of age. , gender and biological affinity (race). For this purpose, in this documentary search, the collection of information was used through bibliographic reviews, the use of the Internet, magazines, photographs, interviews, conferences, seminars, courses and videos that enriched the research. By means of all this, tables and tables have been selected as sufficient information to be able to conclude that with these tables it is possible to identify human corpses in skeletal reduction through the aforementioned analyzes.