Zika virus infection history and symptoms

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Yazan Daaboul, M.D., Nate Michalak, B.A., Serge Korjian M.D., Yamuna Kondapally, M.B.B.S [2]

Overview

The most common symptoms of Zika virus infection include fever and maculopapular rash. Additional symptoms include arthralgia, conjunctivitis, myalgia, headache, retro-orbital pain, and vomiting. The diagnosis of Zika is based on person’s recent travel history, symptoms, and test results.

History

Specific areas of focus when obtaining a history from the patient include any history of:

Prior residence in or travel to an areas with local ZIKV transmission.
Recent sexual exposure to a person who resided in or travelled to an areas with local ZIKV transmission (With or without diagnosis of ZIKV infection or suggestive symptoms).
History of recent blood transfusion.
History of recent laboratory exposure of ZIKV (injuries from sharps, etc).

Symptoms

The symptoms of Zika virus infection are similar to those of other arboviral infections such as dengue fever and chikungunya.
Many patients infected with Zika won’t have symptoms or will only have mild symptoms. For this reason, many people (approximately 80%) might not realize they have been infected.
The pre-symptomatic period varies from 3-12 days, during which viremia may occur.
Symptoms of Zika virus infection include the following:^[1]^[2]^[3]

Common Symptoms

Less Common Symptoms

Abdominal pain
Constipation
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Mucous membrane ulcerations (Aphthous)
Pruritis

References

↑ Zika Virus. For Health Care Providers: Clinical Evaluation & Disease. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2015). http://www.cdc.gov/zika/hc-providers/clinicalevaluation.html Accessed on December 11, 2015
↑ Hayes EB (2009). “Zika virus outside Africa”. Emerg Infect Dis. 15 (9): 1347–50. doi:10.3201/eid1509.090442. PMC 2819875. PMID 19788800.CS1 maint: PMC format (link)
↑ Duffy MR, Chen TH, Hancock WT, Powers AM, Kool JL, Lanciotti RS; et al. (2009). “Zika virus outbreak on Yap Island, Federated States of Micronesia”. N Engl J Med. 360 (24): 2536–43. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa0805715. PMID 19516034.

[Zika_Virus_CDC-1] Zika Virus. For Health Care Providers: Clinical Evaluation & Disease. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2015). http://www.cdc.gov/zika/hc-providers/clinicalevaluation.html Accessed on December 11, 2015

[pmid19788800-2] Hayes EB (2009). “Zika virus outside Africa”. Emerg Infect Dis. 15 (9): 1347–50. doi:10.3201/eid1509.090442. PMC 2819875. PMID 19788800.CS1 maint: PMC format (link)

[pmid19516034-3] Duffy MR, Chen TH, Hancock WT, Powers AM, Kool JL, Lanciotti RS; et al. (2009). “Zika virus outbreak on Yap Island, Federated States of Micronesia”. N Engl J Med. 360 (24): 2536–43. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa0805715. PMID 19516034.

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