Table 2.

Indications, Dosing, and Adverse Effects for Medications Used to Treat Chagas Disease

Medication	Indications by Age and Acute/Chronic Status	Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Considerations	FDA Status	Dosage	Adverse Effects
Benznidazole	Approved for patients aged 2–12 y Recommended for all acute and chronic infections in children aged ≤18 y, including congenital infections Recommended for patients aged 19–50 y in chronic indeterminate stage or with mild to moderate cardiomyopathy Consider for patients aged >50 y without advanced cardiomyopathy Avoid treating patients with advanced cardiomyopathy and heart failure	Pregnant patients should not be treated Consider deferral of treatment until after breastfeeding has stopped	Approved for pediatric patients aged 2–12 y Treatment for older children and adults is based on the decision of the treating physician	5–8 mg/kg of body weight per day Administered in 2 divided doses, taken orally for 60 d	Dermatitis, peripheral neuropathy, anorexia, bone marrow suppression, nausea, vomiting
Nifurtimox	Approved for patients from birth to age 18 y Recommended for all acute, congenital, and chronic pediatric cases Recommended for patients aged 19–50 y in chronic indeterminate stage or with mild to moderate cardiomyopathy Consider for patients aged >50 y without advanced cardiomyopathy Avoid treating patients with advanced cardiomyopathy and heart failure	Pregnant patients should not be treated Treatment should be deferred until after breastfeeding has stopped	Approved for pediatric patients weighing ≥2.5 kg from birth to age <18 y Not approved for adults; treatment for adults is based on the decision of the treating physician	Taken orally with food 3 times daily for 60 d For patients from birth to age <18 y:  For those weighing ≥2.5 to <41 kg: 10–20 mg/kg per day  For those weighing ≥41 kg: 8–10 mg/kg per day	Anorexia, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, headache, dizziness, neuropathy

FDA = U.S. Food and Drug Administration.