Zika

Question 1

What is the incubation period?

Answer 1

3-14 days

Question 2

How is zika virus transmitted?

Answer 2

• Vector-borne transmission occurs via bite of an infected mosquito, primarily Aedes (both A. aegypti and A. albopictus).
• The virus can also be transmitted through sexual contact, from mother to child during pregnancy, blood product transfusion, and organ transplantation

Question 3

What are the clinical features of zika?

Answer 3

The illness is usually mild, with symptoms resolving within 2-7 days.

Zika virus infection usually presents with

• low-grade fever,
• a maculopapular rash on the face, trunk, extremities, palms and soles, which is often pruritic,
• arthralgia of the small joints of hands and feet, and
• non-purulent conjunctivitis.

Other symptoms include myalgia, headache, retro-orbital pain, oedema, and vomiting.

High-grade fever and severe symptoms should alert the physician to co-infections, including dengue and chikungunya virus infections

Question 4

What are the complications of zika?

Answer 4

• Guillain-Barré syndrome, meningoencephalitis, acute myelitis, and
• Adverse foetal outcomes in women infected during pregnancy, including foetal loss, congenital microcephaly, other cerebral structural abnormalities, visual and hearing deficits and seizures.
• The time window for adverse foetal outcomes in utero appears to occur throughout pregnancy.

Question 5

How is zika diagnosed?

Answer 5

• Zika virus can be identified in blood or urine samples of symptomatic individuals via polymerase-chain reaction (PCR).
• Zika serological tests should not be used for diagnosis of Zika virus infection due to cross-reactivity with dengue virus.

Question 6

How are patients with zika managed?

Answer 6

• Management is supportive with rest and symptomatic treatment.
• Pregnant women with symptoms of possible Zika virus infection should seek medical attention immediately and consult their obstetrician