Initial description of the presumed congenital Zika syndrome

D. De Barros Miranda-Filho, C.M.T. Martelli, R.A. De Alencar Ximenes, T.V.B. Araújo, M.A.W. Rocha, R.C.F. Ramos, R. Dhalia, R.F. De Oliveira Franca, E.T. De Azevedo Marques Junior and L.C. Rodrigues

American Journal of Public Health, 2016, vol. 106, issue 4, 598-600

Abstract: Objectives. To provide an initial description of the congenital syndrome presumably associated with infection by Zika virus compared with other syndromes including congenital infections of established etiologies. Methods.Weprovide an overview of a published case series of 35 cases, a clinical series of 104 cases, and published and unpublished reports of clinical and laboratory findings describing cases diagnosed since the beginning of the epidemic of microcephaly in Brazil. Results. About60%to70%of mothers report rash during pregnancy; mainly in the first trimester. Principal features are microcephaly, facial disproportionality, cutis girata, hypertonia/spasticity, hyperreflexia, and irritability; abnormal neuroimages include calcifications, ventriculomegaly, and lissencephaly. Hearing and visual abnormalities may be present. Conclusions. Preliminary data suggest that severe congenital abnormalities are linked to Zika virus infection. Cases have severe abnormalities, and although sharing many characteristics with congenital abnormalities associated with other viral infections, abnormalities presumably linked to the Zika virus may have distinguishing characteristics. These severe neurologic abnormalities may result in marked mental retardation and motor disabilities for many surviving offspring. Policy Implications. Affected nations need to prepare to provide complex and costly multidisciplinary care that children diagnosed with this new congenital syndrome will require.

Keywords: Brazil; case report; congenital; female; human; Intellectual Disability; isolation and purification; microcephaly; neuroimaging; newborn; pregnancy; pregnancy complication; rash; syndrome; transmission; vertical transmission; Zika fever; Zika virus, Brazil; Exanthema; Female; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; Intellectual Disability; Microcephaly; Neuroimaging; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; Syndrome; Zika Virus; Zika Virus Infection (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2016.303115_3

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2016.303115

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