**1. Introduction**

Achalasia is one of the most studied affections associated with esophageal motility and is characterized by incomplete relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter and absence of peristalsis along the esophageal body. Consequently, the food transit towards the stomach becomes hampered, which makes the patient present dysphagia as the main symptom. Other symptoms such as regurgitation of saliva and undigested food, heartburn, chest pain and respiratory symptoms such as nocturnal cough, recurrent aspiration and pneumonia have also been reported [1, 2].

The incidence of achalasia is similar in most countries, ranging from 0.7 to 1.6 per 100,000 inhabitants/year and with a prevalence of 1.8 to 12.6 per 100,000 inhabitants [2, 3].

Although idiopathic achalasia and Chagas disease have different etiologies, both conditions have, in fact, the same clinical, radiological, endoscopic and manometric presentation [1–3].
