- What to do if Zika is suspected
- How the diagnosis is made
- How to tell if your baby has Zika
- How is Zika virus treated
In order to make the correct diagnosis of Zika virus infection it is important to be aware of the symptoms that usually appear 10 days after a mosquito bite and that, initially, include fever above 38ºC and red spots on the skin of the face. These symptoms usually evolve to other symptoms that are a little more specific such as:
- Severe headache that does not improve; Sore throat; Joint pain; Muscle pain and excessive tiredness.
Usually, these signs last up to 5 days and can be confused with the symptoms of flu, dengue or rubella, so it is important to go to the emergency room when more than 2 of the symptoms appear to be seen by a doctor to diagnose the problem, initiating proper treatment. Learn about other symptoms caused by the Zika virus and how to relieve it.
What to do if Zika is suspected
When there is a suspicion of being with Zika, it is recommended to go to the hospital immediately so that the doctor can observe the symptoms and assess whether they may be caused by the Zika virus. In addition, the doctor may also order some tests to ensure that there is no other disease that may be causing the same symptoms. However, in times of epidemic, doctors may suspect the disease and do not always request an examination.
How the diagnosis is made
The diagnosis to identify the presence of the Zika virus is made through the rapid test, molecular and immunological tests and should be done, preferably, during the symptomatic phase of the disease, which is when there is a greater chance of detecting this virus, even if it is in low concentrations.
The most used test in the diagnosis of the Zika virus is the RT-PCR, which is a molecular test that can be performed using blood, urine or placent as a sample, if it is performed on pregnant women. Although blood analysis is the most frequent, urine guarantees a higher probability of detection, in addition to being easier to collect. Through the RT-PCR, in addition to identifying the presence or absence of the virus, it is possible to check at what concentration the virus is present, and this information is useful for the doctor to establish the best treatment.
In addition to molecular tests, it is also possible to make a serological diagnosis, in which the presence of antigens and / or antibodies that may be indicative of infection is investigated. This type of diagnosis is most commonly performed in pregnant women and newborns who have microcephaly, and can be performed from a blood sample, umbilical cord or CSF.
The rapid test is used most often as a form of screening, and the result must be confirmed through molecular or serological tests. There are also immunohistochemical tests, in which a biopsy sample is sent to the laboratory to be investigated for the presence of antibodies against the virus, however this test is only performed on babies born without life or in suspected abortions of microcephaly.
Due to the similarity between the symptoms of Zika, Dengue and Chikungunya, there is also a molecular diagnostic test that allows the different viruses to be differentiated, allowing the correct diagnosis and the beginning of treatment to be made, however this test is not available in all the health units, which are usually found in research laboratories and which also receive samples to make the diagnosis.
How to tell if your baby has Zika
In the case of the baby, it can be a little more complicated to identify Zika symptoms. Therefore, it is very important that parents pay attention to signs such as:
- A lot of crying; Restlessness; Appearance of red spots on the skin; Fever above 37.5ºC; Red eyes.
If Zika is suspected, the child should be taken to the pediatrician for diagnostic tests and, thus, the most appropriate treatment can be started. See what you can do to treat your baby with Zika.
How is Zika virus treated
Treatment for the Zika virus is the same as treatment for dengue, and should be guided by a general practitioner or infectious disease. It is usually done only with symptom control, since there is no specific antiviral to fight the infection.
Thus, treatment should be done only with rest at home for about 7 days and the use of painkillers and remedies for fever, such as Paracetamol or Dipyrone, for example, to relieve symptoms and speed recovery. Anti-allergy and Anti-inflammatory drugs can also be indicated to control some of the symptoms.
In some people, Zika Virus infection can complicate the development of Guillain-Barré Syndrome, a serious disease that, when left untreated, can leave the patient unable to walk and breathe, potentially fatal. Therefore, if you experience progressive weakness in your legs and arms, you should quickly go to the hospital. People diagnosed with this syndrome reported having experienced Zika symptoms about 2 months earlier.
See the following video on how to eat to recover from Zika faster:
