In 18 patients with acute Chagas' disease parasitaemia was semi quantitated before and during treatment using a modified Strout method. Before therapy the parasitaemia varied between 1 and 104 trypanosomes and after begining treatment the para-sitaemia was estimated repeatedly every two to five days until it fell below detectable levels. The initial dose of drug was 10 to 15 mg per kilogram per day of Nifurtimox for seven patients and 10 to 20 mg per kilogram per day of Benzonidazol for eleven patients. After start of treatment with Nifurtimox the duration of patient's parasitaemia varied from 5 to 23 days. With Benzonidazole one patient had parasitaemia for 15 days. Benzonidazole depressed parasitaemia more rapidly than Nifurtimox.
Acute Chagas disease; Parasitaemia; Strout method modificated; Treatment