New Bayer Drug for Chagas Disease Treatment Receives U.S. Food and Drugs Administration Approval
Chagas disease is named after the Brazilian physician Carlos Chagas. The condition, also known as American trypanosomiasis, is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi and can be divided into acute and chronic phases, with the clinical phase causing heart, esophagus or intestinal symptoms. Chagas disease is common in parts of Mexico, Central America, and South America. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more than 300,000 persons with Trypanosoma cruzi infection live in the U.S. Symptoms of the condition include, mild flu-like symptoms, such as fever, fatigue, body aches, and headaches. Diarrhea, loss of appetite, rash, and vomiting, and swelling on the side of the face are some other symptoms. Chagas disease treatment includes use of antiparasitics such as benznidazole and nifurtimox. Benznidazole is usually considered the first-line treatment. A single dose of benznidazole is highly effective in eliminating more than 90% of parasites. However...