Pharmacotherapy/Treatment Of Zika Virus Patient

Pharmacotherapy of Zika virus

Zika virus is a mosquito borne flavivirus. It was first identified in Uganda in 1947 in monkeys. It was not until 1952 that it was discovered in humans in Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania.

Signs And Symptoms

The incubation period is 3-14 days. Many infected persons do not develop symptoms. Symptoms are generally mild with fever, rash, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise and headache. These signs and symptoms last for 2-7 days.

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Complications

The disease is very dangerous in pregnant women. It causes microcephaly and other congenital anomalies in the fetus and newborn. Others are fetus loss, stillbirth and preterm birth.

It has so been confirmed to trigger Guillain-barré syndrome, neuropathy and myelitis mostly in adults and older children.

Mode Of Transmission

Zika virus is primarily transmitted by the bite of an infected aedes genus mosquito mainly aegypti species. This is the same species that transmit yellow fever, chikungunya and dengue fever. They bite during the day peaking during early morning and latest afternoon/evening.

Others are mother to fetus, sex with an infected male partner, blood or blood products and organ transplant.

Diagnosis/Test

Zika virus can be diagnosed using blood (also serum and plasma), urine, cerebrospinal fluid, amniotic fluid, semen and saliva. Some evidence suggests that the virus survives longer in some parts of the body than others such as semen and urine.

The recommended specimen for diagnosis is blood, urine and serum. There are two type of test which include:

1. Specimen for nucleic acid testing: whole blood, serum collected in a dry tube and/or urine collected from patients presenting with onsets of symptoms ≤7 days.

2. Serology (LgM detection): whole blood collected in a dry tube and serums collected from patients presenting with onsets of symptoms ≥ 7 days.

Two tests should be down 2-3 weeks apart when the first is within 5 days from onset of symptoms.

Prevention

1. Prevent mosquito bite Read this

2. Use contraceptive for infected man

3. Personal hygiene

Pharmacotherapy/Treatment

Sorry, no vaccine or drug is available. Medical approach is supporting therapy with rest, fluid and paracetamol for joint pains. Avoid aspirin and other non steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) until dengue can be ruled out. They are safe in Zika virus patients.

There are several vaccines and drugs under investigation for Zika virus.

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