Antiparasitic Treatment
Antiparasitic treatment is recommended for all cases of acute or reactivated Chagas disease and for chronic Chagas disease in children up to age 18. Congenital infections are considered acute disease.
For adults with chronic Chagas disease, the decision to treat with antiparasitic drugs should be individualized, weighing the potential benefits and risks for the patient. Physicians should consider factors such as the patient's age, clinical status, preference, and overall health.
The two drugs used to treat infection with Trypanosoma cruzi are nifurtimox and benznidazole. In the United States, these drugs are not FDA approved and are available only from CDC under investigational protocols. For both drugs, side effects are fairly common, and tend to be more frequent and more severe with increasing age.
Common side effects of benznidazole treatment include:
- allergic dermatitis
- peripheral neuropathy
- anorexia and weight loss
- insomnia
The most common side effects of nifurtimox are:
- anorexia and weight loss
- polyneuropathy
- nausea
- vomiting
- headache
- dizziness or vertigo
Contraindications for treatment include severe hepatic and/or renal disease. Treatment should be postponed until after pregnancy. Although there are no reported data regarding breastfeeding, withholding treatment while breastfeeding is also recommended.
Questions regarding treatment should be directed to the Division of Parasitic Diseases (770-488-7775; email chagas@cdc.gov).
For emergencies (for example, acute Chagas disease with severe manifestations or Chagas disease in an immunocompromised person) outside of regular business hours, call the CDC Emergency Operations Center (770-488-7100) and ask for the person on call for Parasitic Diseases.
Page last reviewed: September 26, 2007
Content Source: Division of Parasitic Diseases (DPD)
National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-Borne, and Enteric Diseases (ZVED)
