Zika Virus and the Risk of Developing Microcephaly in Infants: A Systematic Review

Evangelia Antoniou, Eirini Orovou, Angeliki Sarella, Maria Iliadou, Nikolaos Rigas, Ermioni Palaska, Georgios Iatrakis and Maria Dagla
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Evangelia Antoniou: Department of Midwifery, University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, Greece
Eirini Orovou: Department of Midwifery, University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, Greece
Angeliki Sarella: Department of Midwifery, University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, Greece
Maria Iliadou: Department of Midwifery, University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, Greece
Nikolaos Rigas: Department of Health Management, Greek Open University, 26335 Patra, Greece
Ermioni Palaska: Department of Midwifery, University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, Greece
Georgios Iatrakis: Department of Midwifery, University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, Greece
Maria Dagla: Department of Midwifery, University of West Attica, 12243 Athens, Greece

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 11, 1-12

Abstract: The global epidemic of Zika virus has been a major public health problem affecting pregnant women and their infants. Zika virus causes a viral disease transmitted to humans mainly by the infected Aedes mosquito bite. The infection is not severe in most cases; however, there is evidence that infection during pregnancy may be associated with fetal genetic abnormalities (including microcephaly). In addition to microcephaly and other malformations, some specific lesions in the central nervous system have been reported. The aim of this systematic review was to determine the risk of developing microcephaly in infants whose mothers were infected with Zika virus in pregnancy. Epidemiological studies and case reports were incorporated in our review, finally including 15 articles from an initial pool of 355 related papers. Most studies have linked maternal infection during pregnancy to the development of neonatal microcephaly. The period considered most dangerous is the first trimester and the beginning or the whole of the second trimester. In order to understand the relationship between Zika virus and microcephaly in infants, a cohort study will be able to estimate the time from the onset of Zika infection and the full spectrum of adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Keywords: Zika virus; Zika virus and pregnancy; Zika virus and microcephaly; Zika virus and congenital malformations (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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