Zika Virus: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

What is Zika Virus?

Zika is a mosquito-borne virus that mainly occurs in tropical and subtropical parts of the world. It’s a type of flavivirus and is in the same family of other viruses including Japanese encephalitis, West Nile, yellow fever and dengue fever.

Zika can be transmitted through several species of Aedes mosquitos, but the Aedes aegypti, also known as the yellow fever mosquito, most commonly transmits it. Unlike malaria-carrying mosquitos, Aedes mosquitos bite during the day, especially around dawn and dusk.

When a female mosquito bites an already infected host, the virus enters the mosquito’s system, replicates itself and then spreads to its salivary glands.  It then takes about eight to ten days for the virus to incubate in the mosquito. Once the infected mosquito feeds on someone else, the virus transmits to the person. It incubates in a human for about three to twelve days, after which it begins to replicate and spread to glands and the nervous system.

Zika is rarely fatal, but can result in serious complications. No cure exists yet, so global efforts focus on awareness and prevention. The goal of these efforts is to reduce rates of infection from mosquito to human and from one human to another.

History of Zika Virus

Zika virus was first identified in rhesus monkeys in 1947 in Uganda’s Zika Forest. Then, in 1952, the first human case of the virus was identified in Tanzania and Uganda. Outbreaks have periodically been recorded in Asia, the Pacific, the Americas and Africa. A major outbreak of the disease occurred in Brazil in 2016, which raised international awareness. Since then, outbreaks have occurred in Brownsville, Texas and Miami, Florida.

Symptoms of Zika Virus

Roughly 4 of 5 of people who become infected with the virus have minimal to no signs. When symptoms do occur, however, they present 3 to 14 days after exposure and are usually mild and last for about 2 to 7 days. Some commonly reported symptoms include:

• Red eyes (conjunctivitis)
• Muscle pain
• Headache
• High temperature
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Fatigue
• Appetite loss

Because symptoms tend to be mild and resemble a common cold, people may not seek medical attention. While the virus has symptoms similar to a cold, it can be distinguished by the absence of respiratory symptoms like sneezing and coughing.

Researchers believe that once infected, a person is unlikely to become re-infected in the future.

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Causes of Zika Virus

Zika infections most commonly result from transmission through an infected mosquito. Once a human is infected, however, it can then spread to other humans through the following means:

From Mother to Child

If a pregnant woman contracts the Zika virus during pregnancy, she can pass it to her unborn baby. In addition, transmission from mother to baby can occur during the time of birth and through breastmilk.

Sexual Contact

The virus can be also be spread from one person to another through sexual contact, including anal and oral sex and sharing of sex toys. Zika virus can be transmitted through a man’s sperm to his sex partners (either male or female). A man can transmit the disease before he notices the symptoms, when the symptoms have been noticed and even after the symptoms have been resolved.

Blood Transfusion

Areas that experienced outbreaks of Zika like French Polynesia and Brazil discovered that the virus can, and had been, transmitted through blood transfusions. These regions with high Zika activity are continuing to try to find methods to ensure the safety of their emergency blood supply. In the U.S., by contrast, the FDA determined in 2018 that periodic screening of some blood samples is sufficient to maintain a safe emergency blood supply.

Risk Factors for Zika Virus

Living in or traveling to tropical or subtropical areas where infected mosquitos reside increases your risk of exposure to the virus. Areas that have wet lowlands and warmer temperatures may also be prone to Zika infected mosquitos. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention continually tracks the changing global Zika activity and reports it to the public here.

Complications of Zika Virus

Even though symptoms of Zika tend to be mild, they can cause serious life-long complications.

Guillain-Barre Syndrome

This autoimmune disorder affects the peripheral nervous system and can cause weakness, paralysis and even difficulty breathing independently. Symptoms vary widely in their severity but luckily, many people recover from this disorder with treatment. According to research of areas that have experienced Zika outbreaks, a link appears to exist between Zika infection and the risk of developing Guillian-Barre Syndrome.

Congenital Malformations

If a pregnant woman becomes infected by Zika, the fetus may develop certain congenital malformations. For example, microcephaly, or the condition where a baby has an abnormally small head circumference that ultimately affects brain development, has been observed in connection with Zika.

While the increase in babies born with microcephaly in Brazil’s most recent outbreak was well publicized and rightfully caused alarm within the region’s health ministries, researchers now guess that only a small number, about 1 percent, of women infected with the virus during pregnancy will give birth to babies with microcephaly.

However, it’s still unclear how many babies, even if born without microcephaly, will develop other developmental issues as they get older. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, babies who were infected in utero and now are between the ages of 19 to 24 months often exhibit developmental delays to varying degrees. They may also experience problems with hearing, vision, joint mobility and motor skills.

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Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM)

A few rare cases of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) were reported in connection with the Zika outbreak in Brazil. With ADEM, people experience sudden swelling of the brain and spinal cord, causing symptoms like weakness and paralysis. Generally, though, people recover from this condition within 6 months.

Prevention of Zika Virus

No cure or vaccine currently exists, so public health efforts focus on awareness and prevention. Steps you can take to avoid becoming infected include:

Avoiding Mosquito Bites

• If you’re traveling, check here to see if the area is currently experiencing Zika activity.
• Use insect repellent. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approves several types of repellents such as DEET, Picaridin and oil of lemon eucalyptus. Which product is most appropriate for you depends on many factors and the EPA recommends using this tool to determine which to choose. Follow instructions carefully, especially when applying to children. In addition, never apply insect repellent to babies under 2 months of age.
• Use screens on doors and windows. When traveling, choose accomodations with screens. If this isn’t possible, sleep under a mosquito net, preferably treated with the insecticide permethrin.
• Use air conditioning if possible.
• Wear long sleeve shirts and long pants, preferably treated with permethrin.
• Cover baby strollers with nets.
• Minimize mosquito breeding sites by periodically checking for, and getting rid of, standing water that may accumulate in things like pots, pet bowls and buckets inside and outside of the house.

Prevent Person to Person Transmission

• If you’re caring for someone with the virus, wash your hands and surfaces frequently.
• Avoiding vaginal, anal, oral and manual sex will prevent the virus from spreading. Zika survives in semen longer than other fluids, so men are advised to be particularly careful of passing it to a partner.
• Use condoms.
• People with a pregnant sex partner who travel to Zika infected areas abstain from sex with that partner or use a condom for the duration of the pregnancy.

Supplements and Remedies for Zika Virus

Treatment for a Zika infection resembles that for a common cold. Get plenty of rest and fluids and use acetaminophen (Tylenol) to reduce fever or pain. Using NSAIDS (Motrin, Advil, aspirin) shouldn’t be used until Dengue fever is ruled out. Some natural remedies can help get you back on your feet as well.

Garlic

Garlic contains allicin, a compound that strengthens the immune system and manages fever. This property of garlic makes it great for fighting bacterial, viral and contagious contamination. As a dietary supplement, take 650 mg twice a day with meals or as directed by a physician.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C contains incredible healing agents that can reduce symptoms related to Zika virus. Research from the University of Puerto Rico and Ponce Health Sciences University published a report that showed that after three days of vitamin C therapy, the conditions of a patient with Zika significantly improved. As a dietary supplement, take 1,000 mg daily or as directed by a physician.

Ginger

Ginger is an anti-inflammatory agent that can help provide relief from headache, bronchitis, nausea, abdominal cramps and cough, as well as joint and muscle pain. It can also help eliminate the symptoms of the virus and strengthen the immune system. As a dietary supplement, take 1,000 mg daily or as directed by a physician. To avoid heartburn, take with at least 8 ounces of water.

The Bottom Line

Most human cases of Zika originate from an infected mosquito. This virus presents a challenge for public health officials because people may not even realize they’ve been infected. In some cases, however, it leads to neurological problems. One of the most problematic consequences of the virus affects fetuses whose mothers became infected during pregnancy. These babies can be born with congenital abnormalities and have developmental impairments. While no treatment or vaccine exists yet, there are ways to prevent mosquito bites and steps you can take to prevent passing it to another person.

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Created on Mar 17th 2020 10:01. Viewed 229 times.

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