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The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Print ISSN:
0002-9637
Online ISSN:
1476-1645
  • Figure 1.
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    Figure 1.

    Computed tomographic study of the abdomen and pelvis in the coronal plane revealing a 16-cm dilatation of the transverse colon.

  • Figure 2.
    View in gallery
    Figure 2.

    Computed tomographic study of the abdomen and pelvis in the sagittal plane revealing distention of the stomach, duodenum, and transverse colon.

  • Figure 3.
    View in gallery
    Figure 3.

    Scout view of the abdomen (lateral projection) on computed tomographic study of the abdomen and pelvis.

Figure 1.

Computed tomographic study of the abdomen and pelvis in the coronal plane revealing a 16-cm dilatation of the transverse colon.
Figure 2.

Computed tomographic study of the abdomen and pelvis in the sagittal plane revealing distention of the stomach, duodenum, and transverse colon.
Figure 3.

Scout view of the abdomen (lateral projection) on computed tomographic study of the abdomen and pelvis.
  • 1.

    Bern C, 2015. Chagas’ disease. N Engl J Med 373: 456–466.

  • 2.

    Cuda T, Gunnarsson R, de Costa A, 2018. Symptoms and diagnostic criteria of acquired megacolon—a systematic literature review. BMC Gastroenterol 18: 25.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 3.

    Verani JR, Montgomery SP, Schulkin J, Anderson B, Jones JL, 2010. Survey of obstetrician-gynecologists in the United States about Chagas disease. Am J Trop Med Hyg 83: 891–895.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
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Article Category:
Images in Clinical Tropical Medicine

Abdominal Distension in an Elderly Man after Presumed Vertical Transmission of Chagas Disease

Eliza Cricco-LizzaDepartment of Medicine, New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York City, New York

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Montreh TavakkoliDepartment of Medicine, New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York City, New York

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Justin R. KingeryDepartment of Medicine, New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York City, New York

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.18-0764
Volume/Issue:
Volume 100: Issue 4
Page(s):
773–774
Open access
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Chagas is a parasitic disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi. It is commonly asymptomatic in the acute phase. Chronically, it can lead to heart block, cardiomyopathy, and/or megaesophagus/colon.1,2 Vertical transmission occurs in 1–10% of births and is under-recognized and rarely screened.3 In a survey of obstetrician-gynecologists in the United States, only 8% knew the risk of congenital infection and 78% never considered a diagnosis of Chagas disease among patients from endemic countries.3 We present the case of an 81-year-old man from the United States with a history of complete heart block who presented with chronic abdominal distention. Abdominal imaging revealed distention of the stomach and duodenum, and 16 cm enlargement of the transverse colon (5.7 SD above the mean for Chagas megacolon) (Figures 1–3).2 Trypanosoma cruzi IgG was positive by ELISA, and IgM and polymerase chain reaction were negative. The patient reported travel limited to Cuba, France, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, where no documented cases of transmission have been observed.1 His mother, however, originated from South America, making vertical transmission the likely source of his infection. Given effective treatment strategies with early diagnosis, raising awareness and screening for vertical transmission could thwart preventable complications of this disease.3

Figure 1.
Figure 1.

Computed tomographic study of the abdomen and pelvis in the coronal plane revealing a 16-cm dilatation of the transverse colon.

Citation: The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 100, 4; 10.4269/ajtmh.18-0764

Figure 2.
Figure 2.

Computed tomographic study of the abdomen and pelvis in the sagittal plane revealing distention of the stomach, duodenum, and transverse colon.

Citation: The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 100, 4; 10.4269/ajtmh.18-0764

Figure 3.
Figure 3.

Scout view of the abdomen (lateral projection) on computed tomographic study of the abdomen and pelvis.

Citation: The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 100, 4; 10.4269/ajtmh.18-0764

REFERENCES

  • 1.↑

    Bern C, 2015. Chagas’ disease. N Engl J Med 373: 456–466.

  • 2.↑

    Cuda T, Gunnarsson R, de Costa A, 2018. Symptoms and diagnostic criteria of acquired megacolon—a systematic literature review. BMC Gastroenterol 18: 25.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 3.↑

    Verani JR, Montgomery SP, Schulkin J, Anderson B, Jones JL, 2010. Survey of obstetrician-gynecologists in the United States about Chagas disease. Am J Trop Med Hyg 83: 891–895.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

Author Notes

Address correspondence to Justin R. Kingery, Department of Medicine, New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, 525 E. 68th St., New York City, NY 10065. E-mail: jrk9006@med.cornell.edu

Authors’ addresses: Eliza Cricco-Lizza, Montreh Tavakkoli, and Justin R. Kingery, Department of Medicine, New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York City, NY, E-mails: elc2029@med.cornell.edu, mot9028@nyp.org, and jrk9006@med.cornell.edu.

Copyright:
© The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 2019
Received:
19 Sep 2018
|
Accepted:
21 Dec 2018
|
Published Online:
03 Apr 2019
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