[Series of acute Chagas' disease cases attended at a tertiary-level clinic in Manaus, State of Amazonas, from 1980 to 2006].

INTRODUCTION

Chagas disease is an emerging and neglected problem in the Brazilian Amazon region.

METHODS

This study describes a series of acute autochthonous cases of Chagas disease that were attended at the Tropical Medicine Foundation of Amazonas, Manaus, between 1980 and 2006.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine cases were recorded: 19 (65.5%) were male and 10 (34.5%) cases were female. Fifteen (51.7%) were isolated cases and 14 (48.3%) were from outbreaks. The commonest signs and symptoms were fever, fatigue, headache, myalgia, chills, pallor, dyspnea and edema of the face and lower limbs. No deaths were recorded.

CONCLUSIONS

The disease occurred frequently among young people. The parasitological methods showed high sensitivity.