Zika Virus - SP Medifort Hospital

Zika Virus Treatment

Zika Virus Treatment In South India

The Zika virus is a mosquito‑borne virus spread mainly by Aedes mosquitoes (especially Aedes aegypti), which bite mostly during the day. It can also be transmitted sexually, from mother to fetus during pregnancy, and less commonly through blood products.

Symptoms and Causes

What are the symptoms of the Zika virus?

The most common symptoms of Zika virus infection are:

Fever.
Rash.
Joint pain.
Headache.
Muscle pain.
Conjunctivitis (red eyes).
Malaise.

What causes the Zika virus?

Zika virus infection occurs when the virus enters the human body through specific transmission routes, with the most common being mosquito bites in regions where the virus circulates.

Mosquito bite transmission: The primary cause of Zika virus infection is the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito, especially Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. These mosquitoes pick up the virus when they bite an infected person and then transmit it to others through subsequent bites.
Mother‑to‑fetus (congenital) transmission: A pregnant woman infected with Zika can pass the virus to her developing fetus. This can lead to serious birth defects such as microcephaly and other congenital abnormalities.
Sexual transmission: Zika virus can be spread through sexual contact from an infected person to their partner, even if the infected person does not have symptoms, making sexual transmission an important route of infection.
Blood and tissue exposures: In some cases, the Zika virus can be transmitted through infected blood transfusions, organ transplants, or laboratory exposures, though these routes are much less common than mosquito or sexual transmission.

Diagnosis of Zika Virus

Diagnosis of Zika virus infection is based on clinical suspicion and confirmed with specific laboratory tests to detect the virus or the body’s immune response.

Clinical assessment: Doctors first consider symptoms (like fever, rash, joint pain, and red eyes) and recent travel or exposure to areas with known Zika transmission. Because symptoms overlap with many other infections, clinical evaluation alone is not enough.
Molecular testing (NAAT/PCR): A molecular test, such as PCR, is used to detect Zika virus RNA (genetic material) in blood or urine. This test is most reliable when done soon after symptoms begin because the virus is present at higher levels early in infection.
Antibody testing (IgM/serology): Blood tests can detect IgM antibodies that the body produces in response to Zika infection. These antibodies usually appear about a week after symptoms start, but results can cross‑react with other related viruses like dengue, so interpretation requires care.
Confirmatory tests: If antibody tests are unclear, a plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT) may be performed to help confirm that the antibodies are specific to Zika and not another similar virus, especially in regions where multiple flaviviruses are circulating.
Specialized testing in pregnancy: In pregnant women or suspected congenital infection, testing may include Zika NAAT and antibody testing on maternal serum, urine, and sometimes amniotic fluid to assess fetal exposure.

What are the Zika virus risk factors?

Certain factors increase a person’s risk of acquiring the Zika virus or experiencing serious consequences from the infection, mainly related to exposure to the virus and vulnerability during pregnancy.

Travel or residence in endemic areas: Being in tropical or subtropical regions where Aedes mosquitoes (the main carriers) are present greatly increases the risk of exposure to the Zika virus.
Mosquito exposure: Frequent bites from infected Aedes mosquitoes—especially without protective measures—are the primary way people catch the virus.
Unprotected sexual contact: Having unprotected sex with someone who has been infected, especially after travel to an area with Zika, raises the risk of transmission.
Pregnancy: Pregnant women are at higher risk of severe outcomes because the Zika virus can pass to the fetus and cause congenital malformations such as microcephaly.
Blood and tissue exposure (less common): Rarely, the Zika virus can spread through infected blood or tissue exposure, such as blood transfusion or laboratory incidents, increasing risk for those exposures.

What treatment options are available for the Zika virus?

There is no specific cure, vaccine, or antiviral medicine for Zika virus infection. Treatment focuses on supportive care to relieve symptoms and prevent complications.

Rest and hydration: Patients should get plenty of rest and drink fluids to stay hydrated, which helps the body recover from fever, rash, and joint pain.

Fever and pain relief: Over‑the‑counter acetaminophen (paracetamol) can be used to reduce fever and ease pain. Other pain relievers, such as aspirin and NSAIDs, should be avoided until dengue is ruled out due to bleeding risk.

Avoid NSAIDs until dengue is excluded: Because Zika and dengue can occur in the same areas and have similar symptoms, aspirin and other non‑steroidal anti‑inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) should be avoided until dengue infection is excluded to reduce hemorrhage risk.

Monitor pregnant women: Pregnant women with confirmed Zika should receive close medical monitoring, including regular ultrasounds to watch fetal development, because of the risk of congenital abnormalities.

Prevent further mosquito exposure: People with Zika should avoid mosquito bites during the first few days of illness to reduce the chance of transmission to other mosquitoes and further spread.