Abstract

VELASCO-CASTREJON, Óscar  and  RIVAS-SANCHEZ, Beatriz. Notes for the history of Chagas' disease in Mexico. Bol. Med. Hosp. Infant. Mex. [online]. 2008, vol.65, n.1, pp.57-79. ISSN 1665-1146.

This work attempts to summarize the most important historical data concerning knowledge on Chagas' disease in Mexico and its correlation with other Latin-American countries, from the discovery of triatomines, whose transmission capacity was unknown at the time to recent works that treat elimination forms of transmission by vectors and blood transfusion, as well as intents to improve disease diagnosis by means of molecular biology. Among the most important data on Mexico, we mention those related with the discovery of Chagas' disease and its disease transmitters and reservoir, and the manner in which the Campaña Nacional de Erradicacion Paludica simultaneously controls malaria and Chagas' disease, which avoided Mexico becoming to be a hyperchagasic country. This national campaign employed the method of periodic spraying of DDT and other insecticides within the population's households. Thus, we additionally have noted the existence of visceral and congenital Chagas' disease. Other important information comprises epidemiologic data obtained through the Encuesta Nacional Seroepidemiologica vs Enfermedad de Chagas and the Encuesta sobre el Riesgo de Transmision de Trypanosoma cruzi by Hemotransfusion, in addition to the mains works of the most widely recognized Mexican authors from Mazzotti to date. We also attempt to recognize herein the sole researcher who achieved simultaneous discovery of the disease's transmitter, its etiologic agent, and the disease itself: Carlos Chagas. Finally, in view of that fact that at present frequent detection has occurred of cases of cardiomyopathy apparently due to Chagas' disease that are, on the one hand, negative for serology test and other diagnostic means for T. cruzi and that on the other hand have been confirmed as positive for Leptospira interrogans by tests including Leptospira isolates, we emphasize the importance of diagnosing the presence of this bacteria in the previously mentioned type of patient.

Keywords : Chagas' disease; triatomines; DDT.

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