Children with Congenital Zika Syndrome: the complexity of nursing care during hospitalization

Abstract

Objectives: to classify the degree of dependence on nursing care required by children with Congenital Zika Syndrome during hospitalization and to analyze their complexity. Methods: this is a descriptive, observational and quantitative study carried out in a pediatric ward of a public hospital in Rio de Janeiro. Data were collected from hospitalization records between June 2017 and April 2018. Results: 54% of the population studied showed a degree of dependence equivalent to semi-intensive care. On 37.5% of hospitalization days, patients required non-invasive or invasive mechanical ventilation; 31.5% had spontaneous breathing requiring airway clearance by aspiration and/or oxygen therapy. Conclusion: Congenital Zika Syndrome represents a challenge for health professionals due to its uniqueness. In this study, it is expressed by demands for complex and continuous care in hospitalization and in preparation for discharge, requiring semi-intensive nursing care.

Perinatal characteristics and longer-term outcomes in Brazilian children with confirmed or suspected congenital Zika infection: ZIKAction Paediatric Registry

“…In a study of 145 children with CZS followed at a referral centre in Pernambuco [ 29 ], 49% had been hospitalised by age 24 months, with an average stay of 4 days and very similar discharge diagnoses as reported here. A smaller study from Rio de Janeiro reported gastrointestinal tract-related admissions as the main reason for hospitalisations, but with respiratory and nervous system problems as the next most important; this study also examined the nursing care required for the 41 hospitalisations studied, finding that 8% required intensive and 54% semi-intensive care (i.e., clinically unstable) [ 30 ]. The high risk of infections may partly reflect increased risk of broncho-aspirations in this population, where a high proportion may have persistent dysphagia, as well as infections associated with invasive devices.…”