A Community-Based Screening Program for Chagas Disease in the USA

Sheba K Meymandi; Salvador Hernandez; Colin J Forsyth

doi:10.1016/j.pt.2017.07.003

A Community-Based Screening Program for Chagas Disease in the USA

Trends Parasitol. 2017 Nov;33(11):828-831. doi: 10.1016/j.pt.2017.07.003. Epub 2017 Jul 27.

Authors

Sheba K Meymandi¹, Salvador Hernandez², Colin J Forsyth²

Affiliations

¹ Center of Excellence for Chagas Disease at Olive View-UCLA Medical Center, Sylmar, CA, USA. Electronic address: smeymandi@dhs.lacounty.gov.
² Center of Excellence for Chagas Disease at Olive View-UCLA Medical Center, Sylmar, CA, USA.

PMID: 28756912
DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2017.07.003

Abstract

Chagas disease (CD) affects over 300 000 people in the USA, many with limited access to healthcare. Although early detection and treatment prevents life-threatening complications, <1% of people with CD receive diagnosis, and routine screening is virtually nonexistent in the USA. We describe a program that led to an increase in CD screening in the Latin American-born population of Los Angeles.

MeSH terms

California
Chagas Disease / diagnosis
Chagas Disease / prevention & control*
Hispanic or Latino
Humans
Mass Screening
Preventive Health Services*