ABC Medical Center > Diseases > Zika

What is zika?

4 May 2021

It is a viral disease whose infection is transmitted by the Aedes mosquito in tropical areas. Its name comes from the Zika forest in Uganda, where the first outbreak of this disease was identified in 1947.

Most infected patients do not experience symptoms, although others have muscle pain, rash, and fever.

Only in some serious cases does the Zika virus cause serious neurological complications, even when they are asymptomatic. When pregnant women get infected, the risk of experiencing miscarriage, birth defects, and microcephaly in babies is greatly increased.

It can also be transmitted during sexual intercourse, through blood transfusions, and when there is organ donation.

At the moment, there is no specific vaccine against Zika, although research protocols for its development are underway. While it is achieved, the way to prevent it is to take precautions to prevent mosquitoes from biting and spreading the virus.

Signs and symptoms Zika

The characteristic symptoms appear three to 15 days after infection, usually disappearing in eight days, the most common being:

  • Sore eyes.
  • Tiredness.
  • Weakness.
  • Abdominal cramps.
  • High fever.
  • Rashes.
  • Muscle pains.
  • Headache.
  • Aching joints.
  • Conjunctivitis.

Potential complications of Zika infection in extreme cases are:

  • Microencephaly.
  • Neurological conditions.
  • Eye problems.
  • Spontaneous abortion.
  • Premature birth.
  • Congenital defects.
  • Joint and movement atrophy.
  • Guillain Barre syndrome.

Diagnosis and treatment Zika

Once your doctor analyzes your symptoms and clinical history, they will perform a physical examination and ask about the places you have been and if you have recently traveled.

In case of suspecting Zika infection, they will request blood and urine tests to establish an accurate diagnosis.

As it is a viral disease, there is no effective treatment, so it is recommended to rest, maintain adequate hydration, and control symptoms with painkillers and anti-inflammatories.

At ABC Medical Center’s Internal Medicine Department, we offer health care services with the highest quality and safety, from the prevention, diagnosis, timely treatment, and monitoring of infectious, respiratory, endocrinological, dermatological, rheumatic, nephrological, gastrointestinal, and hematological pathologies of both chronic-degenerative diseases and acute conditions, through a comprehensive and multidisciplinary model.

Related centers and departments Zika

Internal medicine
Radiology and Molecular Imaging
Clinical Laboratory

Fuentes:

  • medlineplus.gov
  • mayoclinic.org
  • msdmanuals.com
  • hopkinsmedicine.org
  • who.int
  • medigraphic.com
  • Méndez-Delgado JF, Cordero-Zamora A, González-González E, et al. Transmisión de Zika por accidente laboral. Med Int Mex. 2021;37(3):424-429.
  • Pando-Cifuentes A, Cortés-González V, Berrones-Medina D, et al. Extension of TORCH spectrum in ophthalmology: congenital Zika, case report. Rev Med Inst Mex Seguro Soc. 2019;57(6):395-399.
  • Tejeda HOO, Amaro RL, Sosa PO. Caracterización clínica epidemiológica de pacientes pediátricos con zika en epidemia. Rev Cubana Pediatr. 2020;92(3):1-12.
  • Loaiza QKV, Charpentier MRJ. Infección por virus de Zika: revisión de literatura. Revista Médica Sinergia. 2020;5(12):1-11.

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