Abstract

Chagas disease is known to be the result of a complex set of bio-ecological and social determinants. The maximum incidence of the disease occurred between 1950 and 1970, with a downward tendency observed in the following decades. Innumerable socio-cultural and political elements take part in the geographic expansion of the disease, the prevention of the disease and in the medical attention given those infected. Over the next decades a major reduction in transmission is expected, especially in the vector and transfusion routes, as a consequence of control-oriented programs and changes in the production system, in conjunction with urbanization processes and extensive anthropic actions in endemic areas. A reduction in morbidity is also expected, owing to better access to the health system and to medical advances. Nevertheless, Chagas disease will continue to have great importance in the next two to three decades, the main challenges being surveillance of disease transmission and the medical attention provided to infected individuals. A reduction in the visibility of the disease, with negative repercussions in the political priority given to medical attention and disease control, is also anticipated.