Esophageal involvement in congenital Chagas' disease. Report of a case with megaesophagus. 1984

A L Bittencourt, and G O Vieira, and H C Tavares, and E Mota, and J Maguire

A full-term infant developed dysphagia, vomiting, and regurgitation immediately after birth. On examination at 5 months of age, he was malnourished and had radiographically proven megaesophagus. On direct examination his blood was positive for Trypanosoma cruzi. Additionally an enzyme immunoassay for T. cruzi IgM antibodies was positive. He underwent corrective surgery for the megaesophagus but died post-operatively of aspiration pneumonia. At autopsy, the esophagus was markedly dilated. There was an extreme reduction of neurons in Auerbach's plexus, and inflammation of this plexus and the muscular layer of the esophagus. Nests of parasites were seen in the esophagus and bladder. It is suggested that this patient was not in the chronic phase of Chagas' disease but represents an acute digestive phase of this infection. This is the fourth case in the literature of congenital Chagas' disease with esophageal involvement and clinical signs, and the first in which megaesophagus was seen grossly at post-mortem examination.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007223 Infant A child between 1 and 23 months of age. Infants
D008297 Male Males
D009748 Nutrition Disorders Disorders caused by nutritional imbalance, either overnutrition or undernutrition. Nutritional Disorders,Nutrition Disorder,Nutritional Disorder
D004931 Esophageal Achalasia A motility disorder of the ESOPHAGUS in which the LOWER ESOPHAGEAL SPHINCTER (near the CARDIA) fails to relax resulting in functional obstruction of the esophagus, and DYSPHAGIA. Achalasia is characterized by a grossly contorted and dilated esophagus (megaesophagus). Achalasia, Esophageal,Cardiospasm,Megaesophagus,Achalasia,Achalasias,Achalasias, Esophageal,Cardiospasms,Esophageal Achalasias
D004947 Esophagus The muscular membranous segment between the PHARYNX and the STOMACH in the UPPER GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT.
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D014349 Trypanosoma cruzi The agent of South American trypanosomiasis or CHAGAS DISEASE. Its vertebrate hosts are man and various domestic and wild animals. Insects of several species are vectors. Trypanosoma cruzus,cruzi, Trypanosoma
D014355 Chagas Disease Infection with the protozoan parasite TRYPANOSOMA CRUZI, a form of TRYPANOSOMIASIS endemic in Central and South America. It is named after the Brazilian physician Carlos Chagas, who discovered the parasite. Infection by the parasite (positive serologic result only) is distinguished from the clinical manifestations that develop years later, such as destruction of PARASYMPATHETIC GANGLIA; CHAGAS CARDIOMYOPATHY; and dysfunction of the ESOPHAGUS or COLON. Trypanosomiasis, South American,American Trypanosomiasis,Chagas' Disease,Trypanosoma cruzi Infection,Infection, Trypanosoma cruzi,Infections, Trypanosoma cruzi,South American Trypanosomiasis,Trypanosoma cruzi Infections,Trypanosomiasis, American

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