[Chagas disease in Mexico. Report of two acute cases]

Two cases of acute Chagas disease in schoolchildren of 6 and 13 years of age, both with the clinical features of Romaña's sign, regional lymphadenopathy, and fever, have a history of coexistence and the bite of the transmitter, and live in housing constructed with material considered at risk for infestation by the vector; i.e. roof and walls with palma/zacate (palm tree, grass leaves), dirt floor, and inadequate illumination and ventilation. The parasitological diagnosis of both cases was established by identification of trypomastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi in blood smears and the parasite was isolated in one of them. Benznidazole treatment was administered according to the guidelines of the WHO/PAHO for this disease. The presence of acute Chagas disease in rural areas confirms the active transmission of the parasite, so surveillance and epidemiological controls should be applied. The importance of these cases is that T. cruzi infection is symptomatic in 5% of cases, which implies that a high percentage of cases of infection appear asymptomatic and are not being diagnosed in our country.