Chagas disease and the use of diagnostic techniques according to stage in patients at a health center in Manabí
Diagnóstico por estadio de Chagas en un centro de salud de Manabí
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33936/qkrcs.v9i3.7563Keywords:
Parasitic disease; Trypanosoma cruzi; serological test; diagnostic techniques.Abstract
This study characterized Chagas disease and diagnostic techniques according to the clinical stage in patients with clinical suspicion treated at the Jipijapa Health Center. A descriptive, retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted between January 2022 and December 2023. The sample consisted of 293 people. Absolute and relative frequencies were calculated, and the chi-square test was applied with a significance level 0.05. The results showed a low prevalence of the disease (2.4%). 71.4% of positive cases were female, and 85.7% were from rural areas. However, no statistically significant association was found between the area of origin and positive cases (p = 0.414). In the acute phase, optical microscopy was useful for detecting the parasite. In the chronic phase, immunochromatography was adequate as a screening test, while ELISA and IFI techniques proved more useful as confirmatory test. These results support the need to apply specific diagnostic techniques according to the clinical stage of the disease. Finally, it is important to strengthen surveillance, diagnostic, and control strategies in vulnerable populations to ensure timely detection, and appropriate treatment, and prevent clinical complications associated with the disease.
Keywords: arasitic disease; Trypanosoma cruzi; serological test; diagnostic techniques.
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