Diagnosis

Your doctor will conduct a physical exam, asking about your symptoms and any factors that put you at risk of Chagas disease.

If you have the signs and symptoms of Chagas disease, blood tests can confirm the presence of the parasite or the proteins that your immune system creates (antibodies) to fight the parasite in your blood.

If you're diagnosed with Chagas disease, you'll likely have more tests. These tests may be done to determine whether the disease has entered the chronic phase and caused heart or digestive complications. Tests may include:

• Electrocardiogram, a test that records your heart's electrical activity
• Chest X-ray, an imaging test which lets your doctor see if you have an enlarged heart
• Echocardiogram, a test that uses sound waves to capture moving images of your heart, allowing your doctor to see any changes to the heart or its function
• Abdominal X-ray, a test that uses radiation to capture images of your stomach, intestines and colon
• Upper endoscopy, a procedure in which you swallow a thin, lighted tube (endoscope) that transmits images of your esophagus onto a screen