Overview

Zika virus is a mosquito-borne virus primarily transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. It can also spread through sexual contact, blood transfusions, and from an infected pregnant woman to her foetus. Common symptoms include fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis. In pregnant women, Zika can cause congenital disabilities. Precautions focus on avoiding mosquito bites and safe sexual practices. This blog delves into the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment and prevention from the Zika Virus.

[caption id="attachment_23653" align="alignnone" width="902"] Zika Virus illustration[/caption]

Symptoms of Zika Virus

The Zika virus may not cause symptoms or can cause relatively mild, ambiguous signs. They can continue for up to a week.

The initial signs and symptoms consist of:

- Fever
- Rash
- Joint discomfort
- Red eyes, or conjunctivitis
- Musculoskeletal pain
- Headache
- Discomfort behind the eyes
- Throwing up

It is highly uncommon for a Zika virus infection to be severe enough to require hospitalisation and even more unusual for a person to pass away as a result. Zika complications, however, can be fatal, particularly if a woman gets the infection while she is pregnant. In the foetus, it may result in microcephaly, a brain abnormality. The newborn's skull and brain will be smaller than typical. Pregnancy loss, stillbirth, and other congenital abnormalities are also more common.

[caption id="attachment_23654" align="alignnone" width="1666"] Microcephaly caused by Zika virus[/caption]

Causes of Zika Virus

The primary method of Zika virus transmission is by biting Aedes mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus species) that are infected.

[caption id="attachment_23655" align="alignnone" width="1000"] Aedes mosquitoe[/caption]

Although they bite at night, these mosquitoes mostly strike during the day. They can live indoors and outdoors and typically lay their eggs close to bodies of water. These mosquitoes also spread the viruses that cause yellow fever, chikungunya, and dengue fever.

A mosquito becomes infected and distributes the virus to others when it bites someone already affected.

The Zika virus can also spread in other, less frequent ways. Further investigation is necessary for several of these claimed ways of transmission, as they have yet to be verified. Unlike SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 infection, respiratory droplets do not transmit it.

Officials in charge of public health have verified that unprotected vaginal, anal, and oral intercourse may spread the Zika virus. Compared to other biological fluids such as blood and urine, the virus is more persistently active in semen. Asymptomatic transmission occurs when an infected individual spreads the virus before or after symptoms appear.

Diagnosis of Zika Virus

To detect Zika virus infection, a blood or urine test might be used. Checks to see if the virus is in the body may be acquired, as can serological tests, which look for antibodies your body makes to fight off infection (though the latter is less accurate; similar tests can detect viruses such as dengue and chikungunya).

If a person exhibits symptoms after visiting a high-risk location or having unprotected intercourse with a partner who has visited a region where Zika is prevalent, testing for the virus is typically advised.

Testing is recommended for expectant mothers who may have been exposed to Zika. If abnormalities linked to Zika are detected by foetal ultrasonography, your doctor will also want to test for infection.

Treatment of Zika Virus

When experiencing symptoms, a person should:

- Rest
- Drink more fluids to avoid being dehydrated.
- Use over-the-counter (OTC) painkillers to reduce temperature and discomfort.

In patients who are at risk of bleeding, it is best to wait to use aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) until dengue has been ruled out. It is also recommended that expectant mothers with Zika should be given priority enrollment in the programme for the biweekly monitoring of foetal development and anatomy.

Prevention from the Zika Virus

No immunisation or vaccine is available to protect against the Zika virus. Preventing mosquito bites is essential to preventing the spread of disease.

- To boost defence, individuals are recommended to:
- Use insect repellent.
- Put on long sleeves and long trousers.
- Cover mattresses with mosquito nets (in some circumstances)
- Make use of door and window screens.

By draining tanks and choosing to camp away from lakes or ponds, you may steer clear of places where there is standing water.

When to Consult a Doctor

You can also get in touch with the expert doctors at Narayana Healthcare based in your city to get immediate attention and medical support during injuries, health disorders or any other health concern.

Conclusion

The Zika virus often poses no major health risks for adults and children. However, infection during pregnancy can prevent brain development in the foetus and lead to other birth complications. Your prenatal care provider can advise you on what to expect in your particular scenario if you are pregnant and have been diagnosed with Zika.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. When ought I to visit my doctor? A. Suppose you reside in an area with an epidemic or have visited a place where there is a danger of contracting the virus and you are experiencing symptoms. In that case, you should consult a healthcare practitioner.

Q. Is there a treatment for Zika? A. Zika and the problems it can lead to have no known remedy. Most people just suffer minor symptoms and get better on their own.

Q. For what duration am I contagious? A. According to some research, you can still transmit the Zika virus through intercourse up to six weeks after symptoms first appear.

Q. How dangerous is the Zika virus? A. Because Zika may disrupt a fetus's development, it poses a major threat to pregnant women. For the majority of other adults and children, zika is often moderate.

Q. Where may one find the Zika virus? A. Zika-carrying mosquitoes are widespread around the world. Zika epidemics have occurred in regions of Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and America.

Reference

- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16077-zika-virus
- https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/zika-virus#:~:text=of%20Zika%20virus-,Symptoms,last%20for%202%E2%80%937%20days.