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Published on: May 31, 2024
[Ocular involvement in congenital Chagas disease]
Griselda Berberian1, María Teresa Rosanova, Carina Kaldzielski
1Control Epidemiológico e Infectología, Hospital de Pediatría Prof. Dr. J. P. Garrahan, Buenos Aires, Argentina. griselberberian@yahoo.com.ar
Insights
Congenital Chagas disease can cause severe eye problems like bilateral vitreitis in newborns. Early diagnosis and antiparasitic treatment lead to good outcomes for affected infants.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Congenital Chagas disease is a rare cause of ophthalmic issues in infants.
- Ocular involvement in congenital Chagas disease is infrequently reported.
- Premature infants with congenital infections require specialized ophthalmic evaluation.
Observation:
- Three infants under two months old presented with ocular symptoms.
- All patients were referred for ophthalmic evaluation due to prematurity.
- The primary ophthalmic finding was severe bilateral vitreitis (posterior uveitis).
Findings:
- The vitreitis was directly attributed to congenital Chagas disease.
- Affected infants received antiparasitic therapy.
- All patients demonstrated a positive clinical response to treatment.
Implications:
- Chagas disease should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pediatric ocular pathology in endemic regions.
- Fundoscopic examination is crucial for infants diagnosed with Chagas disease, particularly symptomatic and premature newborns.
- Prompt diagnosis and treatment of congenital Chagas disease can prevent severe visual impairment.
Abstract:
Ophthalmic compromise is infrequent in children with congenital Chagas disease. We present 3 patients under 2 months of age, with ocular involvement, all of them referred to the hospital for ophthalmic evaluation of the premature newborn. The ophthalmic finding was bilateral severe vitreitis (posterior uveitis) related to Chagas disease. They received antiparasitic therapy with a good outcome in all cases. Chagas disease must be considered as differential diagnosis of ocular pathology in those countries where the pathology is endemic, and fundoscopic evaluation must be done in those children with the diagnosis, especially those symptomatic and prematurely born.
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