Acute Chagas Disease in Brazil: A review of reported cases and transmission patterns
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v15i4.50974Keywords:
Acute Chagas Disease, Trypanosoma cruzi, Oral transmission, Epidemiology, Brazil.Abstract
Introduction: Acute Chagas Disease (ACD) remains a significant public health issue in Brazil, with notable changes in its epidemiological profile over recent decades. Aim: This study aimed to critically analyze transmission patterns, geographic distribution, and clinical outcomes of ACD in the country. Methods: This is an integrative literature review with a descriptive and exploratory approach, based on studies published between 1991 and 2024 in PubMed, SciELO, and LILACS databases. Original studies, case reports, and case series describing laboratory-confirmed ACD cases in Brazil were included. Results: The findings demonstrate a reconfiguration of the disease's epidemiological profile, with a growing predominance of oral transmission, particularly associated with the consumption of contaminated foods such as açaí and sugarcane juice, and a strong concentration of cases in the Northern region, especially in the state of Pará. Additionally, a geographic expansion to previously non-endemic areas and considerable variability in outbreak magnitude were observed. Clinically, the disease is characterized by nonspecific initial manifestations and a risk of severe complications, particularly cardiac involvement, associated with higher parasitic load. Conclusion: In conclusion, ACD in Brazil presents a dynamic and multifactorial pattern, requiring strengthened epidemiological surveillance strategies, with emphasis on food safety, early outbreak detection, and healthcare professional training.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Taciana Mirely Maciel Higino, Maria Helena Araújo dos Santos, Karolyna de Oliveira Ramos, Maria Alice Araújo de Oliveira, Michelle da Silva Barros, Ana Karine de Araújo Soares
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