Given the significance of infection with the Zika. It’s possible association with fetal defects, mainly microcephaly. We have prepared this document which also contains the recommendations as well as the basic information on Diagnosis of Zika Virus.
Should know about Diagnosis of Zika Virus
The infection
The Zika virus is transmitted to people through the bite of a mosquito. The same one that transmits the dengue and the chikungunya. The infected person can, in turn, transmit it to others by blood, tissue donation and sexually through the sperm.
Not all infected have the disease: it is estimated that only 1 in 5 people infected with the virus Zika falls ill.
During the first week of infection, the Zika virus can be found in blood. It also transmitted from an infected person to a mosquito. Through its bites, this infected mosquito can then spread the virus to other people.
The development period of the Zika virus (the time from infection to the first symptoms) is unknown, but it is estimated that it can range from several days to a week.
Zika’s virus and its sexual transmission
As of today, we know:
- That the Zika virus can be transmitted sexually by a man to his sexual partners.
- That the Zika virus can be found in the sperm and persist in it. After the resolution of acute infection and is present in sperm longer than in blood. Although not known with certainty, it is estimated that about 3-4 weeks from the onset of infection.
- Cases of sexually transmitted infections have been reported even before the man developed symptoms of the virus.
- It is not known if a woman can transmit the Zika virus to her sexual partners. So far there is no evidence.
- We do not know if infected men, who do not develop symptoms, may have Zika virus in their sperm.
- It is not known whether infected men, who do not develop symptoms, can transmit the Zika virus through intercourse.
You may like also: Best Make 6 recommend drinks You Will Read This Year (in 2017)
Diagnosis of Zika Virus: Symptoms
- The most common symptoms of the disease are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis. Other symptoms that may also appear are muscle and headaches.
- The disease is usually not severe and lasts from several days to one week; Severe cases requiring hospitalization are very rare.
- The Zika virus remains in the blood of the infected person for about a week but can be detected in some people for longer.
A person who presents the described symptoms and who has recently visited the areas where the Zika is located should tell your doctor, indicating the areas where he has traveled. Your doctor should request a specific blood test to detect Zika. Or other viruses with similar symptoms such as dengue or chikungunya.
Diagnosis of Zika Virus: Treatment
There is no vaccine to prevent the development of the disease or a specific medication to treat those infected by Zika. Treatment, since the infection is rarely severe, is symptomatic and is recommended:
- Remain at rest.
- Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.
- Take medication to relieve fever and relieve pain: Paracetamol.
- Do not take aspirin or other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
- If you take any other medication, you should tell your doctor before taking any additional medication.
For Diagnosis of Zika Virus, the US Centers for Disease order prednisone overnight Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that:
A male who has traveled or lives in an area with the Zika virus refrain from having sex or use a condom correctly at all times during the same, especially if your partner is pregnant.
If you develop symptoms of Zika virus disease at any time during your trip or within two weeks of your return. You should visit your doctor to see if you have the Zika virus or another disease.
There are tests to detect Zika virus in sperm but are not widely available. In addition, as of today, there is limited knowledge of how to interpret the results of these tests, so a sperm test is not recommended.
Since the Zika virus can remain in the sperm for longer than in blood, someone could have a result of a negative blood test, but a positive sperm test. However, we insist that there is still limited knowledge of how to interpret test results in sperm so they are not recommended.
Zika’s virus and pregnancy
Until more is known, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends taking special care to pregnant women or those seeking pregnancy.
It recommends that pregnant women
In any trimester, postpone traveling to areas where Zika virus transmission is being recorded. Pregnant women traveling to some of these areas should first notify their doctor and follow strictly the steps to prevent mosquito bites during the trip.
The women attempting or planning to become pregnant should consult their doctor before traveling to affected areas and strictly follow steps to prevent mosquito bites while traveling.
The Zika virus usually stays in the blood of an infected person for only a few days to a week. The virus does not cause infections in a baby conceived after the virus is removed from the blood. There is currently no evidence that Zika virus infection poses a risk of birth defects in future pregnancies. A woman who looks for pregnancy and who has recently recovered from Zika virus infection should consult her doctor after her recovery.
Read also: These are the real effects of sugary drinks on health
Diagnosis of Zika Virus: It is unknown
If a baby infected with Zika at birth will develop microcephaly after birth. Which is also called acquired microcephaly. Babies can develop microcephaly if cranial growth slows down or does not develop after birth. No cases of Zika infection have been reported at the time of delivery. There have also been no cases of infants with acquired microcephaly. All cases recorded to date are of congenital microcephaly, that is, microcephaly occurred before birth, during gestation.
There is no evidence that the Zika virus is transmitted through breast milk. So the mother can continue to be breastfed.
Zika virus and its relationship with fertility treatments including the donation of sperm and oocytes.
Diagnosis of Zika Virus: Doctors & Experts recommend
- Any person who has traveled to an area where the Zika virus is present should avoid pregnancy and receive fertility treatments for up to 28 days.
- A person who has the Zika virus should avoid a natural or assisted pregnancy and not receive fertility treatment until after 6 months.
- And although it is possible that the Zika virus survives sperm freezing and thawing. It doesn’t know exactly this point.
