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Health Surveillance and Disease Prevention and Control / Communicable Diseases / Chagas Disease

Technical Guidelines for Prevention and Control of Chagas Disease

(MSPAS-JICA-PAHO/WHO, February 2007)

Chagas guidelines, El Salvador

Full Text (in Spanish, 58 pp, PDF, 1.3 Mb or via the MSPAS website; chapter headings for contents translated below for user orientation)
- Introduction
Part I: General Information
1. Objective
2. Scope of Application
3. Responsible Authority
4. Definitions
Part II: Surveillance and Control
1. Epidemiological and Serological Surveillance
2. Etiological Treatment Schemes
3. Subsequent Control
4. Chagas Diseases plus Other Underlying Pathologies
5. Parameters for Cure
Part III: Vector Control
1. Control Actions with Suspected or Confirmed Chagas Cases
2. Main Indicators for Evaluating Vector Control
3. Actions To Carry Out in Selected Localities
4. Spraying
5. Method of Evaluation and Entomological Surveillance
6. Health Promotion
Part IV: Final Chapters
- Annexes
- Bibliography

IPCA

Activities to fight Chagas in El Salvador

Central American Initiative to fight Chagas Disease: IPCA

Other Subregional Initiatives
AMCHA (Amazon)
IPA (Andes) |  INCOSUR (Southern Cone)

PAHO Chagas Page

Prepared by the Ministry of Health and Social Assistance of El Salvador (Ministerio de Salud Pública y Asistencia Social / MSPAS) in collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and PAHO, through the subregional initiative IPCA
MSPAS-JICA-PAHO

Introduction: In El Salvador, there has been a marked increase in the number of reported cases of Chagas disease, which can be attributed to the country having strengthened its epidemiological surveillance and laboratory diagnostic capacity. From statistical data over a space of 14 years (1990–2004), 7,614 cases were detected of persons infected with Chagas, from its acute to its chronic forms. In light of this, the disease represents a public health problem for the country due to its individual and social impact as well as the high cost that managing its complications means for health institutions.

Objective of These Guidelines: Standardize criteria for clinical, entomological, epidemiological, and techno-operational approaches for Chagas prevention and control, as well as the compulsory requirements that must be met by legally authorized professionals and healthcare facilities working in the area of Chagas prevention and control.

Scope of Their Application: Institutional level in every health facility providing primary, secondary, and terciary care.

Responsible Authority for Their Application, Enforcement, Monitoring, and Compliance: Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance, through its regional and local health departments.