[Chagas' disease and its significance for Central and South America (author's transl)].

After the successful struggle against malaria, smallpox and tuberculosis, Chagas' disease must be considered the commonest and most serious scourge of the American continent. Experts assess the number of persons suffering from Chagas' disease at about 7 millions with about 35 millions at risk. The acute infection with Trypanosoma cruzi in the blood stream is found chiefly in children in the first few years of life but rarely in adults. Mortality in the acute phase is about 10%. The disease tends to run a chronic course. After an asymptomatic phase (usually 10--12 years), chronic Chagas' myocarditis dominates the chronic form. A great therapeutic advance has been achieved with the nitrofurfurylidene preparation Lampit. For the first time it has become possible to eliminate trypanosomes found in both blood and tissues. Success is particularly to be expected in the treatment of the acute infection.