Zika Virus: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention

Zika in Pregnancy & its Associated Complications

Zika syndrome is caused by infection with the Zika virus, which is transmitted primarily through mosquitoes. Most people infected with Zika have slight symptoms, although a few exhibit none.

When the virus is acquired while a woman is pregnant, it results in severe birth defects such as microcephaly—a situation whereby the baby's head is smaller than usual—and other brain development issues. However, there are several more symptoms that you need to be aware of for early diagnosis and proper treatment.

Keep reading to learn more about the symptoms of Zika syndrome.

What is Zika Virus?

Zika virus is an illness that you can get from certain types of mosquitoes such as Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. It is caused by the Zika virus, a flavivirus transmitted primarily by Aedes mosquitoes. In most cases, people do not know whether they have it or have very mild symptoms. If a woman is infected with Zika virus during pregnancy, it can cause congenital Zika syndrome, which includes microcephaly (a condition where the baby’s head is much smaller than expected), brain abnormalities, and other birth defects.

How Critical is Zika Virus?

Zika virus is particularly critical for pregnant women because it can interfere with fetal brain development. Zika virus infection is generally mild in adults and children, often causing symptoms like fever, rash, conjunctivitis, and joint pain. However, in rare cases, it has been linked to neurological complications such as Guillain-Barré syndrome.

What are the Symptoms of the Zika Syndrome?

The symptoms of infection with the Zika virus range from mild to severe and can differ by case.

Zika virus infection usually causes mild symptoms that last from a few days to one week. The most common symptoms are

• A mild fever is most commonly reported(20% cases).
• A maculopapular rash, characterised by flat or mildly raised red patches
• Discomfort or pain in the joints, particularly affecting the smaller joints in the hands and feet
• Conjunctivitis or eye redness
• Sore muscles (myalgia)
• Mild headache

For asymptomatic cases, many individuals infected with the Zika virus show no symptoms at all, which makes controlling the spread more difficult since asymptomatic people can still pass the virus to others.

What Causes Zika?

Zika virus is a type of flavivirus, an RNA virus, that is primarily transmitted through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitoes. Further, the viruses that cause dengue fever also belong to the flavivirus family.

How is the Zika Virus Transmitted?

Zika is transmitted in several ways, including:

• Mosquito Bites: The most frequent mode of transmission is via bites from Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquitoes, which are found in most parts of the globe. They become carriers after biting an infected person and then passing the virus by biting others.
• Mother to Foetus: Pregnant women with Zika can transmit the virus to the foetus via the placenta, leading to birth defects.
• Sexual Contact: The virus can remain in bodily fluids such as semen for weeks or even months after infection, regardless of the presence of symptoms. Transmission may occur through oral, anal, or vaginal intercourse.
• Blood Transfusion: The transmission of the Zika virus through blood transfusions has been reported in a few specific cases in France and Brazil.

Zika in Pregnancy

In case you are pregnant and have travelled to a location where Zika virus has been reported, please consult your doctors as soon as possible.

Women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant are at the highest risk of Zika virus complications if traveling to areas with active outbreaks. However, it is unclear whether pregnancy itself increases susceptibility to Zika virus infection, this virus can cross the placenta and affect fetus.

What Happens If You Have Zika Syndrome During Pregnancy?

When a pregnant woman is infected with the Zika virus, there is a chance of severe brain and eye damage. These issues may appear individually or together in what is known as congenital Zika syndrome.

Babies born with congenital Zika infection may experience a range of possible health conditions, such as:

• Smaller head size than usual.
• Brain development and growth problems.
• Food problems, like difficulty swallowing.
• Vision and hearing loss.
• Joints taking too long to move are referred to as contractures.
• The stiffness of muscles can immobilise the person.

Not all babies who have congenital Zika syndrome will have all the symptoms that are associated with it. Although some babies may not be born with microcephaly symptoms, these issues can develop while they grow up. Others might also appear healthy at birth but later develop long-term health issues.

How Can You Prevent Zika Syndrome?

To reduce the risk of acquiring or transmitting the Zika virus, follow these precautions:

• Protect Against Mosquito Bites: When travelling to places where Zika is a concern or during an outbreak, cover any exposed skin by wearing long sleeves and pants. Use insect repellents approved by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). Stay indoors in rooms with window screens or sleep under mosquito nets.
• Practice Safe Sex or Abstinence: If you have returned from an area with Zika risk or have sustained transmission, have safe sex using condoms or abstain from all forms of sex—oral, anal, or vaginal—for three months even if you remain asymptomatic. Never share sex toys because they can pass on the virus, too.
• Steer Clear of Travel During Pregnancy: Pregnant women should avoid places where Zika is common. If avoidance of travel is not possible, let your healthcare provider know and exercise extreme caution for any signs of Zika symptoms.
• Precautions in Planning Pregnancy: If you or your partner has visited a Zika-affected area or has a Zika infection, postpone conception to reduce the risk of passing the virus to the foetus.

Current recommendations are to wait for two months for women and three months for men after travelling or developing symptoms before conception or sex. If you are living in a Zika epidemic region while trying to conceive, discuss prevention measures with your healthcare provider.

Zika virus is typically mild, but it can cause serious complications during pregnancy, such as interrupting foetal brain development. If you are pregnant and discover that you have Zika, discuss personalised treatment with your doctor. While there are risks, most infants born to Zika individuals do not experience related complications.

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