De ziekte van Chagas in Nederland

Conflict of interest: none declared. Financial support: T. van Gool was reimbursed for expenses by WHO for his attendance at an informal gathering on the control and prevention of Chagas disease in Europe.

• A total of 8-10 million persons are infected worldwide with Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative parasite of Chagas disease, most of whom are inhabitants of Latin America.

• Due to the increased migration of peoples, Chagas disease has been on the uprise outside Latin America, including in Europe.

• The course of Chagas, also called American trypanosomiasis, runs in 2 phases: an acute phase lasting approximately 2 months, and a chronic phase in which symptoms may appear years after infection. Without treatment, the patient will remain infected for life.

• The acute phase is usually asymptomatic; in the chronic phase of American trypanosomiasis, severe gastro-intestinal and cardiac abnormalities may develop, finally with fatal course.

• In the Netherlands, the number of immigrants who would serologically test positive for American trypanosomiasis is estimated to be between 726 and 2929.

• Healthcare providers in the Netherlands may encounter patients who have Chagas disease more and more frequently.

• The screening of pregnant women and blood donors at risk for American trypanosomiasis should be considered.