Zika virus infection natural history, complications, and prognosis

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Luke Rusowicz-Orazem, B.S.

Overview

Patients with Zika virus infection will develop symptoms between 3 and 12 days upon contracting the disease. Symptoms will typically begin with a mild headache and progress to include a macropapular rash spread across the body within 24 hours, followed by fever, malaise, and back pain. The symptoms typically last from 4-7 days and will fade and an alleviate by the end of a week. The prognosis is excellent, with a full recovery expected with minimal hospitalization and treatment limited to symptoms. Complications can arise through Congenital and Neurological disorders as a result of Zika virus infection; prognosis may be worse in the presence of these complications.

Natural History

  • The symptoms of Zika virus infection usually develop between 3 and 12 days after contraction.[1]
  • Zika virus infection symptoms will usually begin with a mild headache. Within 24 hours, they will progress to include a macropapular rash spread across the face, neck, trunk, upper arms, palms, and soles; fever, malaise, and back pain follow shortly.[2]
  • Without treatment, Zika virus infection symptoms will usually last from 4-7 days[1]
    • The rash is expected to begin to fade after the second day.[2]
    • The fever is expected to break after the third day.[2]

Complications

  • Complications that can develop from Zika virus infection include congenital anomalies such as:[3]
    • Microcephaly
    • Brain lesions
    • Brainstem dysfunction
    • Fetal celebral malformations

Prognosis

  • The prognosis for Zika virus infection is excellent, with the majority of patients experiencing full recovery within 4-7 days of contraction[1].
  • The presence of congenital or neurological complications caused by Zika virus infection can lead to a worse prognosis.[3]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Zika Virus Infection Factsheet for Health Professionals". European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. November 11, 2015. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Hayes EB (2009). "Zika virus outside Africa". Emerg Infect Dis. 15 (9): 1347–50. doi:10.3201/eid1509.090442. PMC 2819875. PMID 19788800.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Epidemiological Alert: Neurological Syndromes, Congenital Malformations, and Zika Virus Infection. Implications for Public Health in the Americas". Pan American Health Organization. Pan American Health Organization. December 1, 2015. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
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