Gastrointestinal Chagas Disease

Colonic involvement can lead to prolonged constipation, abdominal pain, and fecaloma. Patients with megacolon have an increased risk of volvulus and consequent bowel ischemia.

Gastrointestinal Chagas disease is seen predominantly in patients infected in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, and southern Brazil. This geographical pattern is thought to be linked to differences in the predominant T. cruzi genotypes.