Robust epidemiological and biological evidence supports a causal link between prenatal Zika Virus (ZIKV) infection and congenital brain abnormalities including microcephaly. However, it remains uncertain if ZIKV infection in pregnancy also increases the risk for other adverse fetal and birth outcomes. In a prospective cohort study we investigated the influence of ZIKV on the prevalence of prematurity, low birth weight, small-for-gestational-age, and fetal death as well as microcephaly (i.e., overall and disproportionate) in the offspring of women attending a high-risk pregnancy clinic during the recent ZIKV outbreak in Brazil. During the recruitment period (01 March 2016–23 August 2017), urine samples were tested for ZIKV by RT-PCR from all women attending the high-risk pregnancy clinic at Jundiaí University Hospital and from the neonates after delivery. Of the 574 women evaluated, 44 (7.7%) were ZIKV RT-PCR positive during pregnancy. Of the 409 neonates tested, 19 (4.6%) were ZIKV RT-PCR positive in the first 10 days of life. In this cohort, maternal ZIKV exposure was not associated with increased risks of prematurity, low birth weight, small-for-gestational-age, or fetal death. However, relative to ZIKV-negative neonates, ZIKV-positive infants had a five-fold increased risk of microcephaly overall (RR 5.1, 95% CI 1.2–22.5) and a ten-fold increased risk of disproportionate microcephaly (RR 10.3, 95% CI 2.0–52.6). Our findings provide new evidence that, in a high-risk pregnancy cohort, ZIKV RT-PCR positivity in the neonate at birth is strongly associated with microcephaly. However, ZIKV infection during pregnancy does not appear to influence the risks of prematurity, low birth weight, small-for-gestational-age or fetal death in women who already have gestational comorbidities. The results suggest disproportion between neonatal head circumference and weight may be a useful screening indicator for the detection of congenital microcephaly associated with ZIKV infection.
Patient: —
Final Diagnosis: Diagnosis of secondary microcephaly
Symptoms: 23 days after birth revealed that the baby’s head circumference remained at 33 cm (z score=−2.330)
Medication: —
Clinical Procedure: Analysis of samples by reverse transcriptase – polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) revealed the presence of ZIKV only in breast milk
Specialty: Pediatrics and Neonatology
Objective:
Unusual clinical course
Background:
The Zika virus is an arbovirus that has as main source of transmission the bite of infected insects of the genus Aedes and has been associated with cases of congenital malformation and microcephaly in neonates. However, other sources of transmission have been identified since the emergence of this virus in the world population, such as vertical transmission by semen and possibly other body fluids such as vaginal secretion and breast milk.
Case Report:
An infant, born to a mother whose previous delivery was a baby with severe microcephaly, was normal and was negative for Zika virus at birth but developed secondary microcephaly 1 month later, that persisted. The baby was exclusively breast-fed and Zika virus was present in the mother’s milk.
Conclusions:
We report the detection of Zika virus exclusively in the breast milk of a woman after her second delivery of an infant, who later developed microcephaly. This case is consistent with possible vertical transmission.
Objective: To assess the level of caregiver knowledge about respiratory signs and symptoms
of acute respiratory infection (ARI) as well as their ability to detect the early
warning signs and need for medical assistance in children referred to an emergency
service. Methods: This is a prospective, cross-sectional study. A standardized questionnaire with
questions on the perception of the severity of ARI signs and symptoms was applied
to caregivers of pediatric patients assisted in the emergency room of a university
hospital from August 2011 to May 2012. Chi-square and Student’s t-tests were used
to determine which variables contributed with caregivers’ recognition of severity
of acute respiratory diseases.Results: 499 caregivers were interviewed. The most cited causes of ARI were flu syndrome
(78.6%), common cold (73.9%), pharyngitis (64.1%), and pneumonia (54.5%). Fever
(34.1%) and cough (15.8%) were major reasons for referral to hospital. The most
cited signs of severity recognized by caregivers were fever (99.6%), dyspnea
(91.4%), wheezing (86.4%), adynamia (80.2%), coughing (79.8%), and tachypnea
(78.6%). Children’s history of respiratory diseases (p=0.002), caregiver’s age
(p=0.010) and marital status (p=0.014) were significantly associated with
tachypnea, the most severe ARI symptom. Conclusions: Although caregivers of children can recognize ARI most important signs and
symptoms, they are unable to judge severity, which may delay medical care and
early treatment.
Congenital Zika virus (ZIKV) infection may present with a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations. Some sequelae, particularly neurodevelopmental problems, may have a later onset. We conducted a prospective cohort study of 799 high-risk pregnant women who were followed up until delivery. Eighty-three women and/or newborns were considered ZIKV exposed and/or infected. Laboratory diagnosis was made by polymerase chain reaction in the pregnant mothers and their respective newborns, as well as Dengue virus, Chikungunya virus, and ZIKV serology. Serology for toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex virus, and syphilis infections were also performed in microcephalic newborns. The newborns included in the study were followed up until their third birthday. Developmental delay was observed in nine patients (13.2%): mild cognitive delay in three patients, speech delay in three patients, autism spectrum disorder in two patients, and severe neurological abnormalities in one microcephalic patient; sensorineural hearing loss, three patients and dysphagia, six patients. Microcephaly due to ZIKV occurred in three patients (3.6%). Clinical manifestations can appear after the first year of life in children infected/exposed to ZIKV, emphasizing the need for long-term follow-up.
[7][8][9][10] . No Brasil, ainda não houve isolamento de espiroquetos.A inoculação do agente infeccioso leva ao aparecimento local de lesões cutâneas (fase primária), descrita como eritema crônico 1. Livre-docente-Área Materno-Infantil da FSP-USP -Professor Associado do
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