Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Romana's sign
Introduction
Overview
Overview
Romana’s sign, also known as a chagoma, is a medical term for the unilateral painless periorbital swelling associated with the acute stage of Chagas’ disease. It is due to conjunctival swelling after contamination with the vector’s feces, which contains the parasitic trypanosoma cruzi.
Although very characteristic of Chagas’ disease, not all patients with the acute form develop Romana’s sign.
Etymology
Etymology
It is named after Cecilio Romana, an Argentinian researcher who first described the phenomenon.
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]