Congenital Zika syndrome

Title

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Other Names:

Zika syndrome

Categories:

Viral infections

Subtypes:

Infección del virus Zika; Zika virus infection

Summary Summary

Congenital Zika syndrome is caused by exposure to the Zika virus before birth. This may happen if the mother is infected from a mosquito bite or through sexual contact with an affected partner. Signs and symptoms of congenital Zika syndrome include birth defects (like small head size) and other health and development problems.^[1]^[2] Zika virus outbreaks are currently occurring in many countries.^[3] Vaccines to prevent Zika virus infection are being researched. The CDC recommends that pregnant women consider postponing travel to Zika-affected areas. People living in or traveling to areas where Zika virus is found should take steps to prevent mosquito bites. Those who have traveled to Zika-affected areas may wish to take steps to prevent sexual transmission of the Zika virus.^[4] Babies with congenital Zika syndrome benefit from special medical care to address their healthcare needs.^[2]

Last updated: 12/27/2017

Symptoms Symptoms

This table lists symptoms that people with this disease may have. For most diseases, symptoms will vary from person to person. People with the same disease may not have all the symptoms listed. This information comes from a database called the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) . The HPO collects information on symptoms that have been described in medical resources. The HPO is updated regularly. Use the HPO ID to access more in-depth information about a symptom.

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Medical Terms	Other Names	Learn More: HPO ID
80%-99% of people have these symptoms
Maculopapular exanthema		0040186
30%-79% of people have these symptoms
Abnormality of the cerebrospinal fluid		0002921
Arthralgia	Joint pain	0002829
Arthritis	Joint inflammation	0001369
Conjunctivitis	Pink eye	0000509
Fever		0001945
Headache	Headaches	0002315
Increased circulating IgM level		0003496
Myalgia	Muscle ache Muscle pain [ more ]	0003326
Pruritus	Itching Itchy skin Skin itching [ more ]	0000989
5%-29% of people have these symptoms
Ankle swelling		0001785
Edema	Fluid retention Water retention [ more ]	0000969
Transient hearing impairment		0012779
Vomiting	Throwing up	0002013
Wrist swelling		0001225
1%-4% of people have these symptoms
Abnormality of the optic disc		0012795
Absent foveal reflex		0030825
Acute demyelinating polyneuropathy		0007131
Chorioretinal atrophy		0000533
Congenital intracerebral calcification		0006906
Encephalitis	Brain inflammation	0002383
Intrauterine growth retardation	Prenatal growth deficiency Prenatal growth retardation [ more ]	0001511
Iris coloboma	Cat eye	0000612
Lens subluxation	Partially dislocated lens	0001132
Macular atrophy		0007401
Meningitis		0001287
Microcephaly	Abnormally small skull Decreased circumference of cranium Decreased size of skull Reduced head circumference Small head circumference [ more ]	0000252
Myelitis	Inflammation of spinal cord	0012486
Optic disc hypoplasia		0007766
Retinal pigment epithelial mottling		0007814
Spontaneous abortion		0005268
Subcutaneous hemorrhage	Bleeding below the skin	0001933
Thrombocytopenia	Low platelet count	0001873

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Last updated: 1/1/2021

Do you have updated information on this disease? We want to hear from you.

Diagnosis Diagnosis

Making a diagnosis for a genetic or rare disease can often be challenging. Healthcare professionals typically look at a person’s medical history, symptoms, physical exam, and laboratory test results in order to make a diagnosis. The following resources provide information relating to diagnosis and testing for this condition. If you have questions about getting a diagnosis, you should contact a healthcare professional.

Testing Resources

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has information on diagnostic testing for Zika virus infection.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a feature which allows individuals to find their state health department.

Treatment Treatment

The resources below provide information about treatment options for this condition. If you have questions about which treatment is right for you, talk to your healthcare professional.

Management Guidelines

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has posted Interim Guidelines for Health Care Professionals Caring for Pregnant Women and Women of Reproductive Age with Possible Zika Virus Exposure.

Find a Specialist Find a Specialist

If you need medical advice, you can look for doctors or other healthcare professionals who have experience with this disease. You may find these specialists through advocacy organizations, clinical trials, or articles published in medical journals. You may also want to contact a university or tertiary medical center in your area, because these centers tend to see more complex cases and have the latest technology and treatments.

If you can’t find a specialist in your local area, try contacting national or international specialists. They may be able to refer you to someone they know through conferences or research efforts. Some specialists may be willing to consult with you or your local doctors over the phone or by email if you can't travel to them for care.

You can find more tips in our guide, How to Find a Disease Specialist. We also encourage you to explore the rest of this page to find resources that can help you find specialists.

Healthcare Resources

The American Academy of Pediatrics offers psychosocial support videos for pediatricians and families as well as a Webinar series on Zika virus.

Organizations Organizations

Support and advocacy groups can help you connect with other patients and families, and they can provide valuable services. Many develop patient-centered information and are the driving force behind research for better treatments and possible cures. They can direct you to research, resources, and services. Many organizations also have experts who serve as medical advisors or provide lists of doctors/clinics. Visit the group’s website or contact them to learn about the services they offer. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by GARD.

Organizations Providing General Support

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Road
Atlanta, GA 30329-4027
Toll-free: 800-CDC-INFO
TTY: 888-232-6348
Website: http://www.cdc.gov/

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Learn More Learn More

These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

Where to Start

You can obtain general information on this topic from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC is recognized as the lead federal agency for developing and applying disease prevention and control measures to improve the health of the people of the United States. The CDC has updated information and videos on the Zika virus.
March of Dimes has information on Congenital Zika syndrome.

In-Depth Information

Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge.

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Questions sent to GARD may be posted here if the information could be helpful to others. We remove all identifying information when posting a question to protect your privacy. If you do not want your question posted, please let us know.

Have a question? Contact a GARD Information Specialist.

References References

Congenital Zika Syndrome & Other Birth Defects. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Page last reviewed: November 27, 2017; https://www.cdc.gov/pregnancy/zika/testing-follow-up/zika-syndrome-birth-defects.html. Accessed 12/27/2017.
Congenital Zika syndrome. March of Dimes. November 28, 2017; https://www.marchofdimes.org/complications/congenital-zika-syndrome.aspx. Accessed 12/27/2017.
Areas with Zika. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). February 9, 2016; http://www.cdc.gov/zika/geo/index.html.
How to Protect Yourself. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). March 18, 2016; http://www.cdc.gov/zika/pregnancy/protect-yourself.html.