Congenital
Chagas<\/h1><\/div>A new scenario in the transmission of Chagas disease.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>![](\"https:\/\/iberochagas.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Fondo-Linea_Chagas-congenito.svg\")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Currently, vertical or congenital transmission (from a pregnant mother to her child during pregnancy or childbirth) generates the highest number of new cases globally.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
6 to 8<\/p>\n<\/div>
million
infected people
worldwide.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
1,2<\/p>\n<\/div>
million are
women of
childbearing age.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
9.000<\/p>\n<\/div>
babies are born each year
with Chagas disease
worldwide.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
In Latin America, the prevalence of Chagas disease in pregnant women varies from 0.30%<\/span> to 40%<\/span>, and it is estimated that the perinatal transmission rate is between 0.4% and more than 10%<\/span>. However, this transmission is preventable<\/strong>.<\/p>\nDetecting the disease during pregnancy or in newborns allows for simple and cost-effective interventions.<\/p>\n
Care for congenital Chagas disease must be integrated into programs aimed at detecting other mother-to-child infections, as proposed by the EMTI plus initiative (Framework for the Elimination of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B, and Chagas disease) of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
![](\"https:\/\/iberochagas.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Chagas-congenito_imagen_2.png\")
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Challenge<\/p>\n<\/div>
Provide access to easy and early diagnosis for all people exposed to Chagas transmission, especially:<\/p>\n<\/div>
- <\/i><\/span>\n
Women of childbearing age.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>
- <\/i><\/span>\n
Women seeking preconception consultations.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>
- <\/i><\/span>\n
Pregnant people, newborns, younger children, girls, and adolescents (preconception phase).<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div>
- <\/i><\/span>\n
Newborns of infected mothers.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li>
- <\/i><\/span>\n
Relatives and other children born to infected mothers.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/div><\/div>
A new scenario in the transmission of Chagas disease.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
<\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>Currently, vertical or congenital transmission (from a pregnant mother to her child during pregnancy or childbirth) generates the highest number of new cases globally.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
6 to 8<\/p>\n<\/div>
million
infected people
worldwide.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
1,2<\/p>\n<\/div>
million are
women of
childbearing age.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>
9.000<\/p>\n<\/div>
babies are born each year
with Chagas disease
worldwide.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
In Latin America, the prevalence of Chagas disease in pregnant women varies from 0.30%<\/span> to 40%<\/span>, and it is estimated that the perinatal transmission rate is between 0.4% and more than 10%<\/span>. However, this transmission is preventable<\/strong>.<\/p>\n Detecting the disease during pregnancy or in newborns allows for simple and cost-effective interventions.<\/p>\n Care for congenital Chagas disease must be integrated into programs aimed at detecting other mother-to-child infections, as proposed by the EMTI plus initiative (Framework for the Elimination of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV, syphilis, hepatitis B, and Chagas disease) of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div> Challenge<\/p>\n<\/div> Provide access to easy and early diagnosis for all people exposed to Chagas transmission, especially:<\/p>\n<\/div> Women of childbearing age.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li> Women seeking preconception consultations.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li> Pregnant people, newborns, younger children, girls, and adolescents (preconception phase).<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div> Newborns of infected mothers.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li> Relatives and other children born to infected mothers.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>