Berning H
MMW Munch Med Wochenschr. 1981 Jan 2;123(1):23-6.
After the successful struggle against malaria, smallpox and tuberculosis, Chagas' disease must be considered the commonest and most serious scourge of the American continent. Experts assess the number of persons suffering from Chagas' disease at about 7 millions with about 35 millions at risk. The acute infection with Trypanosoma cruzi in the blood stream is found chiefly in children in the first few years of life but rarely in adults. Mortality in the acute phase is about 10%. The disease tends to run a chronic course. After an asymptomatic phase (usually 10--12 years), chronic Chagas' myocarditis dominates the chronic form. A great therapeutic advance has been achieved with the nitrofurfurylidene preparation Lampit. For the first time it has become possible to eliminate trypanosomes found in both blood and tissues. Success is particularly to be expected in the treatment of the acute infection.
在成功战胜疟疾、天花和结核病之后，恰加斯病必须被视为美洲大陆最常见、最严重的灾祸。专家估计，患恰加斯病的人数约为700万，有患病风险的人数约为3500万。血液中克氏锥虫的急性感染主要见于婴幼儿期的儿童，成年人中则很少见。急性期的死亡率约为10%。该病往往呈慢性病程。在无症状期（通常为10至12年）之后，慢性恰加斯心肌炎成为慢性期的主要表现。硝基糠叉胺制剂“兰匹特”（Lampit）取得了重大治疗进展。首次有可能清除血液和组织中的锥虫。预计在急性感染的治疗中会尤其成功。
