Zika Virus and Pregnancy - An Overview

What Is Zika Virus?

Zika is a virus spread to people through the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito. Chikungunya and dengue are spread through these same mosquitoes. People can also get the Zika virus by sexual contact with an infected partner, from an infected mother to the fetus during pregnancy, and through blood-to-blood contact with infected blood (from transfusions, sharing needles with an infected person, or needle sticks). A person with Zika virus can treat their symptoms, but there is no vaccine or cure for Zika. Even if the symptoms in an infected person are treated or does not have any symptoms, they can pass the virus to other people through sexual contact or while giving birth to a baby in pregnancy.

How Does Zika Virus Affect the Fetus?

Zika infection during pregnancy causes microcephaly (when a baby’s head is much smaller than expected compared to babies of the same age and sex) and other severe brain problems. Babies with microcephaly have smaller brains that do not develop properly. Microcephaly does not occur in every baby whose mother has been infected with the Zika virus.

Zika virus can also cause:

• Miscarriage.

• Stillbirth.

• Growth problems in the womb.

Congenital Zika Syndrome - Congenital Zika syndrome is a group of birth defects related to Zika during pregnancy. Pregnant women with Zika infection during the first trimester are more likely to have a baby with birth defects than women infected in their later pregnancy.

Congenital Zika syndrome includes these five birth defects such as:

1. Severe microcephaly with a partly collapsed skull.

2. Less brain tissue than usual.

3. Damage to the back of the eye, including macular scarring.

Joint or limb problems include birth defects like clubfoot, arthrogryposis, and congenital hip dysplasia. Hypertonia can limit a baby’s movement after birth.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Zika Virus?

Zika can be diagnosed with a blood test or a urine test. Most people with Zika do not get sick and do not show any signs or symptoms. In such cases, it is usually a mild illness, and most people do not know they are infected. If there are signs or symptoms of Zika, it usually begins two to seven days after exposure to the virus. Zika virus can affect a person for several days to a week.

The most common signs and symptoms include:

• Headache.

• Fever.

• Joint or muscle pain.

• Itchy rash.

• Conjunctivitis (red and sore eyes).

• Rash.

If a person is affected by the Zika virus, there are no medicines to treat it. If there are signs or symptoms, it is advised to:

• Get plenty of rest.

• Drink plenty of water.

• Take painkillers to relieve pain.

How to Protect From Zika Virus?

There is no medicine or vaccine to help prevent the Zika virus.

If a person is pregnant or trying to get pregnant, here are the steps to be followed to protect from the Zika virus:

• Avoid traveling to a Zika-affected area unless it is absolutely necessary.

• Talk to the health care provider before traveling and take steps to prevent mosquito bites during the trip.

• Prevent mosquito bites.

• Do not have sex with a female or male partner who may be infected with the Zika virus or has recently traveled to a Zika-affected area.

• Use a birth control barrier every time during intercourse.

• If working in a hospital, doctor’s office, other health care setting, or laboratory, always follow the workplace safety rules. Wear gloves, a mask, a gown, and goggles. Avoid direct contact with laboratory samples and body fluids that may be infected with the Zika virus.

• After direct contact with infected patients, laboratory samples, or fluids, wash hands with water and soap or use a hand sanitizer with 60 percent alcohol.

• Follow proper safety rules for throwing out needles and other items that may have body fluids on them.

• If a woman plans to get pregnant with donated sperm, talk to the health care provider about Zika because donated sperm is not tested for the Zika virus. Still, it is important to ask the donors if they have been to a Zika-affected area. If so, their sperm is not allowed to be used.

Steps to prevent mosquito bites:

• Use a mosquito repellant like spray or lotion.

• If a person has traveled to a Zika-affected area, use bug spray or lotion for three weeks after getting back to help prevent the Zika virus from spreading to others.

• Wear a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, a hat, shoes, and socks.

• Treat clothes, shoes, and other gear with bug spray, or wear permethrin-treated clothes if planning to spend time hiking, camping, or doing other outdoor activities.

• Do not spray Permethrin directly on the skin.

• Stay in places where there is air conditioning and screens on windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out.

• Remove still water inside and outside the home or workplace, like flower pots, children’s pools, and buckets.

What Is the Treatment for Zika Virus?

If affected by the Zika virus, there is no treatment available, even during pregnancy. The treatment is to take adequate rest and drink plenty of fluids and can take Paracetamol to relieve fever, pain, and other symptoms. It is advisable to consult a physician before taking any drug during pregnancy.

What Are the Precautions to Be Taken After Traveling Against the Zika Virus?

• If Pregnant and Traveling to a Zika-Affected Area - If pregnant women have returned from an affected area, it is advisable to speak to the health care provider, even if there is no fever or other symptoms. The doctors may evaluate the risk factors and refer you for an ultrasound scan. If pregnant women develop symptoms of the Zika virus within ten days of returning from an affected area, immediately consult a doctor. If a pregnant woman is infected with the Zika virus, they will develop symptoms in 3 to 12 days. The doctor may advise a blood test, and they may require extra monitoring during pregnancy.

• Women Returning From Zika-Affected Areas and Trying to Get Pregnant - After returning from a Zika virus-affected area, wait for eight weeks before planning or trying to get pregnant. If affected by the Zika virus, wait for eight weeks after the symptoms subside before trying to get pregnant. Zika virus can be present in semen for up to six months. So, if the male partner has traveled to a Zika-affected area, wait for six months to arrive home. If the male partner had symptoms of the Zika virus, wait for six months after his recovery.

Conclusion

Zika virus is mainly caused due to mosquito bites. It may affect a person or not show any symptoms. If a mother is infected, the newborn may have many birth defects like microcephaly and less brain tissue. So, it is important not to get infected by the Zika virus. Consult a healthcare professional if you are pregnant or trying to conceive after traveling to a Zika-affected area.