Congenital Zika syndrome: A systematic review

Abstract

Background The signs and symptoms of Zika virus infection are usually mild and self-limited. However, the disease has been linked to neurological complications such as Guillain-Barré syndrome and peripheral nerve involvement, and also to abortion and fetal deaths due to vertical transmission, resulting in various congenital malformations in newborns, including microcephaly. This review aimed to describe the o signs and symptoms that characterize the congenital Zika syndrome. Methods and findings A systematic review was performed with a protocol and described according to the recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement. The search strategy yielded 2,048 studies. After the exclusion of duplicates and application of inclusion criteria, 46 studies were included. The main signs and symptoms associated with the congenital Zika syndrome were microcephaly, parenchymal or cerebellar calcifications, ventriculomegaly, central nervous system hypoplasia or atrophy, arthrogryposis, ocular findings in the posterior and anterior segments, abnormal visual function and low birthweight for gestational age. Conclusions Zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause a series of changes in the growth and development of children, while impacting the healthcare system due to the severity of cases. Our findings outline the disease profile in newborns and infants and may contribute to the development and updating of more specific clinical protocols.

Viral and Prion Infections Associated with Central Nervous System Syndromes in Brazil

“…Vertical transmission been associated not only with spontaneous abortions and stillbirth but also with congenital malformations in the fetuses and/or newborns, for which symptoms are not limited to microcephaly. Congenital Zika virus syndrome (CZS) is mainly characterized by signs and symptoms such as microcephaly, parenchymal or cerebellar calcifications, ventriculomegaly, CNS hypoplasia or atrophy, arthrogryposis, focal pigmentary retina mottling, chorioretinal atrophy and/or coloboma, pallor, atrophy, increased excavation, hypoplasia and/or coloboma of the optic nerve and abnormal visual function, and low birthweight for gestational age, as reviewed in Freitas and colleagues [ 102 ].…”

Estimating the cost of congenital Zika syndrome to families and healthcare providers in Rio de Janeiro and Pernambuco, Brazil: results of a case-control study

“…Microcephaly is the most severe CZS complication in children, but congenital infection with ZIKV is also associated with a range of other conditions, including hypertonicity, seizures, ophthalmic abnormalities, arthrogryposis, cardiac conditions and early development delay [5][6][7] . Consequently, children with CZS are likely to experience a wide range of additional health and social needs during their lifetime, including for specialized health care and education 8 .…”

Zika virus-induced TNF-α signaling dysregulates expression of neurologic genes associated with psychiatric disorders

“…Like many other members of the genus Flaviviridae, ZIKV is both neuroinvasive and neurotropic (2). Infection of the central nervous system has been linked to diverse clinical syndromes, including severe congenital neurodevelopmental abnormalities in infants following vertical infection in utero (3)(4)(5). Severe neurologic disease is less frequent in adults, though cases of encephalitis, myelitis, and, more commonly, peripheral neuropathy have been reported (2,6).…”