International Journal of Tropical Medicine

Year: 2018
Volume: 13
Issue: 3
Page No. 25 - 28

Pregnancy in Time of Zika Virus: Report of Ophthalmological Findings

Authors : Geraldo de Barros Ribeiro and Paulo Franco Taitson

Abstract: The outbreak of Zika virus in several countries has been associated with microcephaly and congenital eye problems. With this, women have been oriented to delay pregnancy due to the risk of contamination and maternal-fetal transmission. Questionnaires were applied to couples and records analysis of children born from October-December 2015 in the city of Olinda, Pernambuco, Brazil. This region was an endemic area of Zika virus, making it a suitable place to compute findings from the disease in newborns. The questionnaire was applied in partnership with the Brazilian Society for Assisted Reproduction (SBRA) which set up a nucleus of reproductive health guidance in the city, once the epidemic expanded. The mean gestational age was 37.4"0.5 weeks. The mean fetal birth weight was 3.120 ("432.2) g. The mean age of the child on the day of the ophthalmologic examination was 2.1 ("0.8) months. Twenty babies of mothers who had Zika virus infection in the first trimester of pregnancy were examined. Of the children examined, 4 presented ocular alterations. The main findings were abnormalities of the optic nerve (3 cases: 2 females and 1 males) and 1 female case with chorioretinal atrophy. One of the children with ocular alterations had no microcephaly and another had no central nervous system anomaly. Recently, a strong relationship of congenital infection with Zika virus with ocular problems, mainly alterations in the retina and optic nerve was established. It is important, therefore, the multidisciplinary follow-up for cases of microcephaly, including the presence of the ophthalmologist in order to prevent, diagnose and treat eye diseases as well as to stimulate vision and rehabilitation of patients.

How to cite this article:

Geraldo de Barros Ribeiro and Paulo Franco Taitson, 2018. Pregnancy in Time of Zika Virus: Report of Ophthalmological Findings. International Journal of Tropical Medicine, 13: 25-28.

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