Chagas disease screening using point of care testing in an at-risk obstetric population

Chagas Disease (CD) has emerged as a public health concern in non-endemic countries including the US where congenital transmission is the most common mode of transmission. Approximately 40,000 women of childbearing age are infected in the US. Women with CD transmit the disease to their babies during pregnancy at a rate of 1-10%, resulting in congenital Chagas. Most individuals infected are asymptomatic making CD challenging to diagnose and treat. If untreated, 20-30% will progress to the “determinate” disease form, characterized by irreversible and debilitating heart and gastrointestinal disease.
Source: American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Category: OBGYN Authors: Tags: IDSOG Oral Presentation Source Type: research