Zika Virus Disease
Zika fever, also known as Zika virus disease or simply Zika, is an infectious disease caused by the Zika virus. Zika virus, which is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes.
It is the same type of mosquito that carries dengue fever, yellow fever and chikungunya virus.
A mosquito bites an infected person as well as that passes those viruses to other people it bites.
Zika virus can be spread through sex. It should be noted that infected women and men can both pass the virus to sex partners – even if they haven’t shown symptoms of infection.
Infected parent women can pass the virus onto their foetus.
Symptoms –
Zika virus infected 4 out of 5 people have no signs or symptoms. When symptoms do occur, particularly begin 2-14 days after a person is bitten by an infected mosquito.
Symptoms usually last in a week, also most of the infected people get fully recovered.
Sign and symptoms of the Zika fever commonly includes-
1• Mild fever
2• Rashes
3• Conjunctivitis (Red eyes)
4• Joint pain, especially in the hands or feet
Some other sign and symptoms may include-
5• Headache
6• Eye pain
7• Muscle pain
8• Abdominal pain
9• Fatigue or a general feeling of discomfort
Causes –
Zika fever(Zika virus disease) which is caused by the Zika virus is most often spread to a person through the bite of an infected mosquito.
The two Aedes species mosquitoes are known to carry the virus.
• When a mosquito bites a person who is already infected with the Zika virus, undoubtedly the virus enters in mosquito and infect the mosquito.
Along with this when the infected mosquito bites another person, the virus enters that person’s bloodstream and causes an infection.
- Different ways of virus spread –
1• Unquestionably during pregnancy, the Zika virus can also spread from the mother to the foetus.
2• Importantly the virus can also spread from one person to another through sexual contact.
3• In some cases, people spread the virus through blood transfusion or organ donation.
Epidemiology –
Risk factors –
Factors that increases the risk of Zika fever by catching Zika virus includes –
• Living or travelling in countries where there has been outbreaks of Zika virus which uItimalety causes Zika fever.
• Having unprotected sex can increase the risk of Zika virus infection for upto three months you return from the Zika virus prone regions.
Complications –
Zika virus infection during pregnancy furthermore increases the risk of serious birth defects in infants (Congenital Zika syndrome) including –
1• A much smaller than the normal brain and head size (microcephaly), along with a partly collapsed skull
2• Brain damage and reduced brain tissue
3• Eye damage
4• Reduced body movement due to too many winds after birth
5• Joint problems, including limited motion
In adults, infection with the Zika virus may cause brain or nervous system complications, such as Guillain-Barre syndrome.Besides in people who never show symptoms of infection.
Diagnosis –
1• Your doctor will likely ask about your medical and travel history.
2• If the doctor suspects Zika virus infection, the doctor will recommend a blood or urine test to confirm the diagnosis.
3• In contrast to if you are pregnant and at the risk of Zika virus infection, doctor will definitely recommend following procedures-
* An ultrasound
* Aminocentensis
Treatment –
There is no specific treatment for Zika virus disease.
1• To help relieve symptoms, get plenty of rest and drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.
2•Importantly to help in relieve joint pain and fever use over-the-counter (OTC) medication such as acetaminophen.
3• Don’t take ibuprofen, naproxen sodium or aspirin untill your doctor ruled out dengue fever.
Prevention –
Despite there is no vaccine to protect against the Zika virus disease, even so you can only take steps to reduce your risk of exposure to the virus by following these steps –
1• Plan for travel carefully.
2• Practice safe sex if your partner lives in or has traveled to infection prone region
3• If you are living or travelling to risky areas stay in air-conditioned or well-screened housing
4•At this time wear protective clothing such as long sleeved shirt, long pants,socks and shoes
5• Use insect repellent
6• Reduce mosquito habitat like cleaning standing water from animal dishes, flower pots, automobile tires etc.