Zika Fever
Disease Details
Family Health Simplified
- Description
- Zika fever is a mosquito-borne viral infection characterized by fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis.
- Type
- Zika fever is a viral disease. The virus responsible for Zika fever is an RNA virus.
- Signs And Symptoms
- Most people who are infected have no or few symptoms. Otherwise the most common signs and symptoms of Zika fever are fever, rash, conjunctivitis (red eyes), muscle and joint pain, and headache, which are similar to signs and symptoms of dengue and chikungunya fever. The time from a mosquito bite to developing symptoms is not yet known, but is probably a few days to a week. The disease lasts for several days to a week and is usually mild enough that people do not have to go to a hospital.Due to being in the same family as dengue, there has been concern that it could cause similar bleeding disorders. However that has only been documented in one case, with blood seen in semen, also known as hematospermia.
- Prognosis
- The prognosis for Zika fever is generally favorable. Most individuals experience mild symptoms that resolve on their own within a few days to a week. Severe complications are rare. However, Zika virus infection during pregnancy can lead to serious birth defects, including microcephaly. Additionally, there have been rare instances of Guillain-Barré syndrome associated with Zika virus infection.
- Onset
- For Zika fever, the onset of symptoms typically occurs within 3 to 14 days after being bitten by an infected Aedes species mosquito. The term "nan" isn't applicable in this context.
- Prevalence
- The prevalence of Zika fever can vary significantly by region and over time due to factors such as mosquito vector density, local transmission dynamics, and public health interventions. It is particularly prevalent in tropical and subtropical areas where Aedes mosquitoes, which transmit the virus, are common.
- Epidemiology
- In April 1947, as part of studies sponsored by the Rockefeller Foundation into yellow fever, 6 caged rhesus monkeys were placed in the canopy of the Zika Forest of Uganda. On April 18 one of the monkeys (no. 776) developed a fever and blood samples revealed the first known case of Zika fever. Population surveys at the time in Uganda found 6.1% of individuals to be seropositive for Zika. The first human cases were reported in Nigeria in 1954. A few outbreaks have been reported in tropical Africa and in some areas in Southeast Asia. Until recently there were no documented cases of Zika virus in the Indian subcontinent, however, the first cases were reported in 2017 from Gujarat state and Tamil Nadu, more cases were reported in Rajasthan state involving an outbreak of 153 reported cases and in a pregnant women living in Kerala state. A 1954 study assessing blood samples from several people from different states found antibodies to Zika in healthy people in India which could indicate past exposure, though it could also be due to cross-reaction with other flaviviruses.By using phylogenetic analysis of Asian strains, it was estimated that Zika virus had moved to Southeast Asia by 1945. In 1977–1978, Zika virus infection was described as a cause of fever in Indonesia. Before 2007, there were only 13 reported natural infections with Zika virus, all with a mild, self-limited febrile illness. As of July 2019, evidence of local transmission from mosquitoes to humans has been reported in a total of 87 countries from four of six WHO Regions; African, Americas, South-East Asia and Western Pacific.
- Intractability
- Zika fever is not typically considered intractable. Most people infected with the Zika virus experience mild symptoms, such as fever, rash, and joint pain, which usually resolve within a week. There is no specific antiviral treatment for Zika virus infection, but supportive care, including rest, hydration, and pain relief, is typically effective. However, complications can occur, especially in pregnant women, as Zika virus infection can lead to serious birth defects.
- Disease Severity
- Zika fever is typically a mild disease; most people infected with the Zika virus do not develop symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they are generally mild and can include fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes). However, Zika virus infection during pregnancy can cause serious birth defects, including microcephaly. Additionally, Zika has been linked to Guillain-Barré syndrome, a rare condition that can cause temporary paralysis.
- Healthcare Professionals
- Disease Ontology ID - DOID:0060478
- Pathophysiology
- In fruit flies microcephaly appears to be caused by the flavivirid virus protein NS4A, which can disrupt brain growth by hijacking a pathway which regulates growth of new neurons.
- Carrier Status
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Carrier Status: Zika fever is primarily transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito, particularly Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. Humans are not considered carriers in the conventional sense, but they can host the virus and infect mosquitoes if bitten, perpetuating the transmission cycle.
Nan: Nan is not applicable in the context of Zika fever. If you meant something else, please provide more details for clarification. - Mechanism
- Early in the 2015–16 Zika virus epidemic, research was begun to better understand how Zika virus causes microcephaly and other neurological disorders. However, with the 2019 election of Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil, who cut funding for research, and the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, most Zika-related research projects were abandoned or reduced.It may involve infection of the primary neural stem cells of the fetal brain, known as neural progenitor cells. The main roles of brain stem cells are to proliferate until the correct number is achieved, and then to produce neurons through the process of neurogenesis. Zika proteins NS4A and NS4B have also been shown to directly suppress neurogenesis. Infection of brain stem cells can cause cell death, which reduces the production of future neurons and leads to a smaller brain. Zika also appears to have an equal tropism for cells of the developing eye, leading to high rates of eye abnormalities as well.In addition to inducing cell death, infection of neural progenitor cells may alter the process of cell proliferation, causing a depletion in the pool of progenitor cells. A large number of cases of microcephaly have been associated with inherited gene mutations, and specifically with mutations that lead to dysfunction of the mitotic spindle. There is some evidence that Zika virus may directly or indirectly interfere with mitotic function, this may play a role in altering cell proliferation.Another line of research considers that Zika, unlike other flaviviruses, may target developing brain cells after it crosses the placenta, and considers the resulting damage likely to be the result of inflammation as a byproduct of the immune response to the infection of those cells.
- Treatment
- There is currently no specific treatment for Zika virus infection. Care is supportive with treatment of pain, fever, and itching. Some authorities have recommended against using aspirin and other NSAIDs as these have been associated with hemorrhagic syndrome when used for other flaviviruses. Additionally, aspirin use is generally avoided in children when possible due to the risk of Reye syndrome.Zika virus had been relatively little studied until the major outbreak in 2015, and no specific antiviral treatments are available as yet. Advice to pregnant women is to avoid any risk of infection so far as possible, as once infected there is little that can be done beyond supportive treatment.
- Compassionate Use Treatment
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Compassionate use or expanded access for Zika fever involves providing investigational drugs or treatments to patients with serious or immediately life-threatening conditions who have no other treatment options available. Currently, there is no specific antiviral treatment approved for Zika virus infection, but research is ongoing.
Off-label or experimental treatments for Zika fever primarily focus on supportive care and symptom management. Ongoing research includes potential antiviral drugs, immune therapies, and vaccines. For instance, medications such as chloroquine and favipiravir have been studied for their potential antiviral effects against Zika virus in experimental settings.
It's important to consult with healthcare professionals for the most current and individualized treatment options. - Lifestyle Recommendations
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Lifestyle recommendations for Zika fever include:
1. **Prevent Mosquito Bites**: Use insect repellent, wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants, sleep under mosquito nets, and stay in places with air conditioning or window and door screens to keep mosquitoes outside.
2. **Avoid Traveling to Areas with Active Zika Outbreaks**: If possible, especially for pregnant women, avoid travel to regions where Zika virus transmission is ongoing.
3. **Practice Safe Sex**: Use condoms or abstain from sex, especially if you or your partner may have been exposed to Zika virus, to prevent sexual transmission.
4. **Environmental Control**: Eliminate standing water around your home where mosquitoes can breed, such as in flowerpots, containers, and birdbaths.
5. **Stay Informed**: Keep updated on Zika virus information and outbreaks from credible health organizations.
6. **Support Recovery**: If infected, rest, stay hydrated, and take acetaminophen for pain and fever. Avoid aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) until dengue is ruled out, as these can increase the risk of bleeding.
Follow these recommendations to manage and reduce the risk of Zika fever. - Medication
- There is currently no specific antiviral medication to treat Zika fever. Management typically involves supportive care, which includes rest, hydration, and medications such as acetaminophen to relieve pain and fever. Avoid aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) until dengue fever can be ruled out to reduce the risk of bleeding.
- Repurposable Drugs
- There is ongoing research into repurposing existing drugs for the treatment of Zika fever, but as of now, there is no specific antiviral treatment approved for Zika virus infection. Supportive care, such as rest, fluids, and pain relief with medications like acetaminophen, is typically recommended. Researchers are exploring drugs like chloroquine, sofosbuvir, and niclosamide for their potential efficacy against Zika virus, but further studies are needed to confirm their effectiveness and safety for this purpose.
- Metabolites
- There is limited specific information available on the metabolites directly related to Zika fever. Generally, Zika virus infection may alter various metabolic pathways as the immune system responds to the virus. Key metabolites that could potentially be impacted include those involved in inflammation, immune response, and cellular energy metabolism. Detailed metabolic profiling specific to Zika virus infection would require further research to identify particular metabolites involved.
- Nutraceuticals
- There is currently no specific nutraceutical treatment recommended for Zika fever. The primary management of Zika involves supportive care, including hydration, rest, and pain relief with medications like acetaminophen. Always consult healthcare professionals for proper diagnosis and treatment options.
- Peptides
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Current research has investigated peptides as potential therapeutic agents or vaccines for Zika fever. Peptides derived from Zika virus proteins have been explored for their ability to elicit immune responses.
In the context of nanotechnology (nan), nanoparticles and other nanoscale materials are being researched for their potential to enhance the delivery and efficacy of vaccines and antiviral drugs against Zika virus. Nanoparticles can help in targeted delivery, improving the stability and bioavailability of treatments.