UMEM Educational Pearls

Category: International EM

Title: Congenital Zika Syndrome

Keywords: Zika, arbovirus, pregnancy, congenital (PubMed Search)

Posted: 2/15/2017 by Jon Mark Hirshon, MD, MPH, PhD (Updated: 3/29/2024)
Click here to contact Jon Mark Hirshon, MD, MPH, PhD

Congenital infection with the Zika virus is associated with 5 types of birth defects

·      These are rarely or never seen with other infections during pregnancy

 

·      These defects are:

1.     Severe microcephaly (small head size) resulting in a partially collapsed skull

2.     Decreased brain tissue with brain damage

3.     Damage to the back of the eye with a specific pattern of scarring and increased pigment

4.     Limited range of joint motion, such as clubfoot

5.     Too much muscle tone restricting body movement soon after birth 

References

https://www.cdc.gov/zika/pregnancy/