First Congenital Chagas Case in U.S. Reported Boy's mother said
that she was diagnosed with the Chagas disease during a previous
pregnancy, and was not treated for the disease, as well as
having no signs or symptoms. Reviewed by Robert Jasmer, MD
FRIDAY, July 6, 2012 (MedPage Today) — A Virginia boy born
almost a year ago is the first case of congenital Chagas disease
reported in the U.S., according to the CDC. The boy was
delivered by cesarean section at 29 weeks gestation in August
2010 after he was found to have fetal hydrops, the accumulation
of fluid in at least two fetal compartments, the agency reported
in the July 6 issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. In
the second week after birth, his mother – a 31-year-old
immigrant from Bolivia – told physicians she had been previously
diagnosed with Chagas and testing of the infant revealed
evidence of Trypanosoma cruzi, the parasite that causes the
disease, which is transmitted to humans by blood-sucking
insects. These insects are often called "kissi