Acute Phase of Chagas Disease
Some patients with acute Chagas disease have signs at the portal of parasite entry. Inflammation and swelling at the site of inoculation through the skin is known as a chagoma; parasites can sometimes be demonstrated in the lesion. Chagomas typically present on the face or extremities.
If the portal of entry was the conjunctiva, characteristic unilateral bipalpebral swelling can result (Romaña’s sign, pictured on the right).
Acute Chagas disease in a young child. Romaña's sign is present. Photo courtesy of WHO/TDR Image Library. TDR photo, Brazil, 1991.
