Zika Virus And Pregnancy: Symptoms And Prevention

Zika virus spreads through the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito. However, an infected mother can pass it to the fetus, leading to complications, usually in the first trimester (1) (2). Thus, preventing exposure to the zika virus when pregnant is essential.

Generally, the zika virus exhibits mild or no symptoms, making its diagnosis difficult (3). Thankfully, vaccines can impart immunity against the virus and avert complications (4).

Read this post to learn about the zika virus infection and its symptoms, treatment, and prevention measures for pregnant women.

What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Zika Virus During Pregnancy?

The virus has an incubation period of 3–14 days, and the disease lasts almost a week. During this time, the following symptoms may be observed (5):

• Low-grade fever
• Rash
• Joint pain
• Conjunctivitis
• Headache
• Muscle pain

Many who contract the virus are asymptomatic or develop mild symptoms that resemble other mosquito-borne illnesses such as chikungunya or dengue. But there are some exceptional cases of severe complications such as Guillain Barré syndrome, acute polyradiculoneuritis, and myelitis.

How Does Zika Virus Spread?

Zika virus spreads in the following ways (6):

• The bite of an infected Aedes aegypti mosquito
• Sexual contact
• From a pregnant woman to the fetus (placental transmission or during birth)
• Blood transfusion (7)

How Can You Prevent Zika Virus Infection During Pregnancy?

The best way to avoid Zika infection is not to travel to Zika-affected areas. If you have recently been to such places, contact your medical advisor before conception. If you live in endemic zone or your travel is mandatory, the following methods would help prevent a Zika virus infection (4) (8) (9):

• Wear light-colored clothes covering the entire body to prevent mosquito bites.
• Aedes mosquitoes attack in the mornings and early evenings; hence, try to stay indoors at such times.
• Cover the windows and doors with screens or blinds.
• Use EPA-registered insect repellents containing DEET, IR3535, or picaridin.
• If your sexual partner has traveled to an area experiencing a virus outbreak, avoid sexual intercourse for at least three to six months.
• Always use a condom during sex.
• Ensure no stagnant water is collected around the house as they are mosquito-breeding sites.

How Is Zika Virus Diagnosed During Pregnancy?

The initial diagnosis of Zika virus could be made based on the symptoms. But since the infection could be asymptomatic, blood and urine tests offer reliable diagnostics. An RT-PCR test can identify the virus’s genetic material in the blood and determine the viral load in the first seven days after the onset of symptoms. Hence, visit the doctor when symptoms begin or if you’ve recently traveled to a Zika-affected area (10) (11).

In case of Zika virus infection during pregnancy, your doctor may recommend an amniocentesis to detect the presence of the virus in the amniotic fluid (12).

Is There Any Treatment?

Unfortunately, there is no treatment for the virus. Medication is given only to treat the symptoms (fever by paracetamol). NSAIDs need to be avoided.

What Happens If You Are Infected By Zika Virus During Pregnancy?

Zika virus transmission during pregnancy could result in congenital malformations or developmental delays. Although not every child infected with congenital Zika virus may have complications, infection increases the risk of birth defects. These complications, collectively called congenital Zika syndrome, could include (13)

• Microcephaly (abnormally small head) in infants
• Limb contractures
• Hearing loss
• High muscle tone
• Eye defects
• Brain development abnormalities
• Seizures
• Psychomotor developmental delays during childhood

Fetuses who contract the Zika virus in utero may not show health problems in the beginning. Since these complications may manifest later in life, they must be screened soon after birth. The following tests may be conducted in their first month (14):

• Physical examination
• Blood, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid analysis
• Ultrasound of the brain
• Eye examination
• Auditory brainstem response (ABR) to check the brain’s response to auditory cues

The medical provider will determine if any abnormal results are due to the Zika virus and provide healthcare based on the complication.

How Long After A Zika Virus Infection Is Pregnancy Safe?

If you have been to an area with a Zika virus outbreak, the waiting period is two months after travel or the onset of symptoms. However, this period is longer for men since the virus may be found in their semen for nearly three months after travel or Zika infection. During this time, sexual intercourse is not advised to prevent sexual transmission (15).

Despite large Zika virus outbreaks in the US in 2015 and 2016, firm preventive measures have reduced its impact since 2019. Nevertheless, care must be taken by pregnant women if they or their partners have visited Zika-affected areas. In such cases, early visits to a doctor for diagnosis are recommended.

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