A patient with Chagas disease may develop enlargement ("mega" disease) in one or more portions of the gastrointestinal or urinary tracts.
Damage to Auerbach's plexus results in gradual dilatation in the affected segments. This may be due to a combination of decreased smooth muscle tone and impaired peristalsis.
Segmental involvement of the GI tract can result in:
(1) megaesophagus
(2) megaduodenum
(3) megajejunum
(4) mega-appendix
(5) megacolon
Segmental involvement of the GU tract can result in:
(1) megaureter
(2) megabladder
Other causes of dilatation (stricture, Hirschsprung's disease, etc) may need to be excluded.
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