Interdisciplinary perspective to approach an infectious disease: American Trypanosomiasis or Chagas Disease

Abstract

Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi and transmitted by a triatomine insect is extremely complicated. When controlling this endemic disease, the disease cannot be considered as an individual and merely biological fact. Among its many components the relationship of individuals to the habitat, production modes, cultural conditions, social relationships and organizational forms must be considered.

As health professionals we present new approaches that integrate different disciplines and modes of intervention, where “the other” recovers his/her individual being and is not merely called upon to play a role as a patient. Positions that encourage participative processes involving listening to the protagonists themselves (women with Chagas, health teams, community references), recovering their unique visions, communicating what is not said about this silent and hushed up disease, and revealing what Chagas hides are important tools when thinking about work proposals.