Research and Reports in Tropical Medicine

Chagas disease: transmission and treatment

Chagas disease is a neglected tropical disease that continues to sweep across endemic areas, typically unnoticed. The asymptomatic nature of the disease can leave diagnosis rates low globally until individuals affected present with symptoms. As a consequence of this there are 6–7 million infections annually, with 10,000 deaths from the disease. This Thematic Series aims to lessen the "neglected" aspect of this tropical disease. Moreover, improving the understanding of the latent and chronic stages of the infection can pave the way to drug development, including practical molecular and chemotherapy-based techniques. Through this the disease may become treatable and preventable in the regions affected.