Gross motor function in children with Congenital Zika Syndrome from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS) is characterized by many impairments especially in the central nervous system, potentially compromising neurodevelopment and causing significant morbidity in affected children. The aim was to assess gross motor function in children with CZS. This was a cross-sectional investigation nested within a prospective cohort study of children with CZS based in a Brazilian referral hospital in Rio de Janeiro. Between March/2017 and February/2018, we performed gross motor function assessments using the Gross Motor Function Classification (GMFCS) and the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM), estimating the mean and standard deviation of GMFM scores among GMFCS groups. The study sample included 72 children, with a median age of 13 months (7-25). Of these, 63 (87.5%) had severe motor impairment, 3 (4%) had moderate impairment, and 6 (8%) had mild impairment. The mean GMFM score for each group was respectively 11.6, 26.1, and 81.6, with statistically significant differences (p-value < 0.001). Severely affected children only achieved head control in the sitting posture when supported. Children with milder forms were able to develop walking skills.Conclusion: Most children with CZS have major motor disabilities and a poor prognosis. Better understanding of limitations and functionality in children with CZS can serve as a prognostic guide in their management. What is Known: • Severe motor impairment was present in 63 (87.5%) children with CZS. • The degree of neurological impairment was inversely associated with motor performance. What is New: • Microcephaly was more frequent among children with severe gross motor function impairment. • Children with CZS have major motor disabilities and a poor prognosis.

Early Clinical Infancy Outcomes for Microcephaly and/or Small for Gestational Age Zika-Exposed Infants.

BACKGROUND: Zika-exposed infants with microcephaly (proportional or disproportional) and those who are small for gestational age without microcephaly should be closely followed, particularly their growth trajectories. They are at high risk of adverse outcomes in the first year of life.Antenatal Zika virus (ZIKV) exposure may lead to adverse infant outcomes including microcephaly and being small for gestational age (SGA). ZIKV-exposed infants with a diagnosis of microcephaly (proportional [PM] or disproportional [DM]) or SGA at birth were evaluated with anthropometric measurements and health outcomes. METHODS: Infants had laboratory-confirmed ZIKV exposure in Brazil. PM, DM, or SGA classification was based on head circumference and weight. First-year growth parameters and clinical outcomes were recorded with analyses performed. RESULTS: Among the 156 ZIKV-exposed infants, 14 (9.0%) were SGA, 13 (8.3%) PM, 13 (8.3%) DM, and 116 (74.4%) were neither SGA nor had microcephaly (NSNM). High rates of any neurologic, ophthalmologic, and hearing abnormalities were observed for PM (100%), DM (100%), and SGA (42.9%) vs NSNM infants (18.3%; P <.001); odds ratio [OR], 3.4 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1-10.7) for SGA vs NSNM. Neuroimaging abnormalities were seen in 100% of PM and DM and in 42.9% of SGA vs NSNM infants 16%; (P <.001); OR 3.9 (95% CI, 1.2-12.8) for SGA vs NSNM. Growth rates by z score, particularly for microcephaly infants, were poor after birth but showed improvement beyond 4 months of life. CONCLUSIONS: ZIKV-exposed infants with microcephaly (PM and DM) had similarly high rates of adverse outcomes but showed improvement in growth measurements beyond 4 months of life. While SGA infants had fewer adverse outcomes compared with microcephaly infants, notable adverse outcomes were observed in some; their odds of having adverse outcomes were 3 to 4 times greater compared to NSNM infants.Zika-exposed infants with microcephaly, irrespective of being proportional or disproportional, and those who are small for gestational age without microcephaly should be closely followed, particularly their growth trajectories. They are at high risk of adverse outcomes in the first year of life.

Zika virus infection in children: epidemiology and clinical manifestations.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this review is to comprehensively review Congenital Zika Syndrome in regard to their epidemiology and clinical manifestations. METHODS: This subject review of congenital Zika syndrome was composed after conducting a thorough review of the available literature on this topic using PubMed and other primary sources. RESULTS: The first epidemic of Zika virus infection in Brazil was followed by an unexpected sharp increase in the incidence of infants born with microcephaly and the description of a new disease, the congenital Zika syndrome. This review focuses on the epidemiological and clinical aspects of Zika infection in children. We conducted a brief historical account of the virus description in 1947, the rare cases of Zika infection occurring up to 2007, and the first epidemics in the Pacific between 2007 and 2014. We also discussed the isolation of the virus in Brazil in 2015 and its spread in the Americas, the microcephaly outbreak in Brazil and its association with Zika virus, and the current epidemiological panorama. We address the known clinical spectrum of Zika virus infection in the pediatric population, including manifestations of acute infection and congenital Zika syndrome, with emphasis on cranial, ophthalmic, and orthopedic abnormalities. CONCLUSION: While much has been learned about congenital Zika syndrome, the full spectrum of this infection is not yet known. This review is based on current, limited data about Zika vírus infection. As more information becomes available, we will have a more accurate picture of this new disease.

Association Between Neonatal Neuroimaging and Clinical Outcomes in Zika-Exposed Infants From Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Importance: Congenital Zika virus (ZIKV) infection may present with a spectrum of clinical and neuroradiographic findings. Objective: To determine whether neuroimaging findings for infants with a history of ZIKV exposure are associated with infant clinical outcomes and gestational age at antenatal ZIKV infection. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study retrospectively reviewed neuroimaging results (computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging scans) of 110 ZIKV-exposed infants from a maternity and children's hospital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, following the 2015 to 2016 ZIKV epidemic. Neuroimaging from March 1, 2016, to June 30, 2017, was evaluated to determine whether findings were associated with clinical outcomes and the timing of maternal ZIKV infection. Data were analyzed from July 1, 2017, to August 30, 2018. Exposures: Neuroimaging (computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging) was performed on ZIKV-exposed infants after birth. Blood and/or urine specimens from mothers and infants were tested for ZIKV by polymerase chain reaction assay. Main Outcomes and Measures: Neuroimaging studies were evaluated for structural abnormalities and other forms of brain injury. Results: A total of 110 infants with a mean (SD) gestational age of 38.4 (2.1) weeks had neuroimaging and clinical outcome data reviewed. Of these, 71 (65%) had abnormal neuroimaging findings, with the majority (96%) classified as having severe ZIKV infection at birth. The most common neuroimaging abnormalities were structural abnormalities including brain calcifications, especially at the cortico-subcortical white matter junction, cortex malformations, ventriculomegaly, and reduced brain volumes, followed by brainstem hypoplasia, cerebellar hypoplasia, and corpus callosum abnormalities. Frequency of abnormal imaging was higher in infants with specific clinical findings as opposed to those without them; these findings included fetal brain disruption sequence (100% vs 35%), microcephaly (100% vs 30%), congenital contractures (100% vs 58%), ophthalmologic abnormalities (95% vs 44%), hearing abnormalities (100% vs 58%), and neurologic symptoms (94% vs 10%). Four of 39 infants (10%) without initial evidence of severe ZIKV infection and normal findings on neurologic evaluation at birth had abnormal neuroimaging findings. Neuroimaging abnormalities differed by trimester of maternal ZIKV infection, with 63% of infants born to mothers infected in the first trimester, 13% of infants born to mothers infected in the second trimester, and 1% of infants born to mothers infected in the third trimester exhibiting neuroimaging abnormalities. The odds of abnormal neuroimaging were 7.9 times greater for infants with first trimester ZIKV exposure compared with other trimesters combined (odds ratio, 7.9; 95% CI, 3.0-20.4; P < .001). Conclusions and Relevance: Neuroimaging abnormalities of computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging scans were common in ZIKV-exposed infants. While neuroimaging abnormalities were seen in 10% of infants without clinically severe ZIKV, most occurred almost exclusively among those with clinically severe ZIKV, especially among those with a history of ZIKV exposure in the first trimester.

Congenital Zika virus syndrome in infants: repercussions for the promotion of families' mental health. / Síndrome congênita do Zika vírus em lactentes: repercussões na promoção da saúde mental das famílias.

This article aims to discuss the impacts of the promotion of families' mental health following the diagnosis of Zika virus infection in the pregnant woman and/or congenital Zika virus syndrome (CZVS) in the infant. The study also aims to foster reflection on mother-infant bonding in this context. The study is relevant not only because there is still so much to learn about CZVS, with its enormous capacity for dispersion and many doubts as to the physical consequences and psychological impacts, but also due to the urgent need to provide families and/or caregivers with guidelines for care and alternatives for dealing with the illness. The study was conducted in an outpatient clinic specifically providing care to children with CZVS at the Unit for Infectious Diseases in Pediatrics in a tertiary hospital of the Brazilian Unified National Health System (SUS) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The team is multidisciplinary, and each member conducts an assessment based on their specific field of knowledge. This qualitative study drew on participant observation, and the data analysis showed that the use of virtual social networks, which function (independently of the medicine approaches) as channels for communication and collective discussion of the different experiences, in order to share strategies to overcome the diagnosed impossibilities.

Este artigo tem como objetivo discutir os impactos na promoção da saúde mental nas famílias a partir do diagnóstico de infecção pelo vírus Zika na gestante e/ou a presença da síndrome congênita do Zika vírus (SCZV) na criança. Busca ainda favorecer uma reflexão a respeito da construção do vínculo mãe-bebê nesse cenário. A relevância do estudo se dá não somente pelo fato de a SCZV ser ainda pouco conhecida, com uma enorme capacidade de dispersão e com muitas dúvidas quanto às consequências físicas e ao impacto psíquico causado, como também pela urgência em ser dada às famílias e/ou cuidadores diretrizes de acolhimento e alternativas para lidar com a doença. O estudo foi desenvolvido em ambulatório específico para o cuidado de crianças com SCZV da Unidade de Doenças Infecciosas em Pediatria de um hospital terciário do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) no Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. A equipe é caracterizada como multiprofissional e cada um de seus integrantes faz uma avaliação com base no campo de saber específico. A pesquisa de cunho qualitativo foi realizada valendo-se da observação participante, e a análise dos dados revelou que a utilização das redes sociais virtuais, as quais independentemente dos caminhos seguidos pela medicina, funcionam como veículo de comunicação e discussão coletiva de diferentes vivências, no intuito de compartilhar estratégias para a superação de impossibilidades diagnosticadas.

El objetivo de este artículo es discutir impactos en la promoción de la salud mental dentro de las familias a cuyas gestantes se les ha diagnosticado infección por el virus Zika, y/o la presencia del síndrome congénito del virus Zika (SCZV, por sus siglas en portugués) en el niño. También pretende favorecer la reflexión respecto a la construcción del vínculo madre-bebé en este escenario. La relevancia del estudio se produce no solamente por el hecho de que el SCZV sea todavía poco conocido, con una enorme capacidad de dispersión, y con muchas dudas respecto a las consecuencias físicas y el impacto psíquico causado, sino también por la urgencia en proporcionar a las familias y/o cuidadores directrices de acogida y alternativas para enfrentarse a esta enfermedad. El estudio se desarrolló en un ambulatorio específico para el cuidado de niños con SCZV de la Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas en Pediatría de un hospital terciario del Sistema Único de Salud (SUS) en Río de Janeiro, Brasil. El equipo estaba caracterizado como multiprofesional y cada uno de sus integrantes realizó una evaluación a partir de un campo de saber específico. La investigación de cuño cualitativo se realizó a partir de la observación participante. El análisis de datos reveló que la utilización de las redes sociales virtuales, independientemente de los caminos seguidos por la medicina, funciona como un vehículo de comunicación y discusión colectiva sobre diferentes vivencias, con el fin de compartir estrategias para la superación de las imposibilidades diagnosticadas.

Screening Criteria for Ophthalmic Manifestations of Congenital Zika Virus Infection.

Importance: Current guidelines recommend screening eye examinations for infants with microcephaly or laboratory-confirmed Zika virus infection but not for all infants potentially exposed to Zika virus in utero. Objective: To evaluate eye findings in a cohort of infants whose mothers had polymerase chain reaction-confirmed Zika virus infection during pregnancy. Design, Setting, and Participants: In this descriptive case series performed from January 2 through October 30, 2016, infants were examined from birth to 1 year of age by a multidisciplinary medical team, including a pediatric ophthalmologist, from Fernandes Figueira Institute, a Ministry of Health referral center for high-risk pregnancies and infectious diseases in children in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Participants: Mother-infant pairs from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, who presented with suspected Zika virus infection during pregnancy were referred to our institution and had serum, urine, amniotic fluid, or placenta samples tested by real-time polymerase chain reaction for Zika virus. Main Outcomes and Measures: Description of eye findings, presence of microcephaly or other central nervous system abnormalities, and timing of infection in infants with confirmed Zika virus during pregnancy. Eye abnormalities were correlated with central nervous system findings, microcephaly, and the timing of maternal infection. Results: Of the 112 with polymerase chain reaction-confirmed Zika virus infection in maternal specimens, 24 infants (21.4%) examined had eye abnormalities (median age at first eye examination, 31 days; range, 0-305 days). Ten infants (41.7%) with eye abnormalities did not have microcephaly, and 8 (33.3%) did not have any central nervous system findings. Fourteen infants with eye abnormalities (58.3%) were born to women infected in the first trimester, 8 (33.3%) in the second trimester, and 2 (8.3%) in the third trimester. Optic nerve and retinal abnormalities were the most frequent findings. Eye abnormalities were statistically associated with microcephaly (odds ratio [OR], 19.1; 95% CI, 6.0-61.0), other central nervous system abnormalities (OR, 4.3; 95% CI, 1.6-11.2), arthrogryposis (OR, 29.0; 95% CI, 3.3-255.8), and maternal trimester of infection (first trimester OR, 5.1; 95% CI, 1.9-13.2; second trimester OR, 0.5; 95% CI, 0.2-1.2; and third trimester OR, 0.3; 95% CI, 0.1-1.2). Conclusions and Relevance: Eye abnormalities may be the only initial finding in congenital Zika virus infection. All infants with potential maternal Zika virus exposure at any time during pregnancy should undergo screening eye examinations regardless of the presence or absence of central nervous system abnormalities.

Síndrome congênita do Zika vírus em lactentes: repercussões na promoção da saúde mental das famílias / Síndrome congénito por el virus Zika en lactantes: repercusiones en la promoción de la salud mental de las familias / Congenital Zika virus syndrome in infants: repercussions for the promotion of families' mental health

Resumo: Este artigo tem como objetivo discutir os impactos na promoção da saúde mental nas famílias a partir do diagnóstico de infecção pelo vírus Zika na gestante e/ou a presença da síndrome congênita do Zika vírus (SCZV) na criança. Busca ainda favorecer uma reflexão a respeito da construção do vínculo mãe-bebê nesse cenário. A relevância do estudo se dá não somente pelo fato de a SCZV ser ainda pouco conhecida, com uma enorme capacidade de dispersão e com muitas dúvidas quanto às consequências físicas e ao impacto psíquico causado, como também pela urgência em ser dada às famílias e/ou cuidadores diretrizes de acolhimento e alternativas para lidar com a doença. O estudo foi desenvolvido em ambulatório específico para o cuidado de crianças com SCZV da Unidade de Doenças Infecciosas em Pediatria de um hospital terciário do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS) no Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. A equipe é caracterizada como multiprofissional e cada um de seus integrantes faz uma avaliação com base no campo de saber específico. A pesquisa de cunho qualitativo foi realizada valendo-se da observação participante, e a análise dos dados revelou que a utilização das redes sociais virtuais, as quais independentemente dos caminhos seguidos pela medicina, funcionam como veículo de comunicação e discussão coletiva de diferentes vivências, no intuito de compartilhar estratégias para a superação de impossibilidades diagnosticadas.

Resumen: El objetivo de este artículo es discutir impactos en la promoción de la salud mental dentro de las familias a cuyas gestantes se les ha diagnosticado infección por el virus Zika, y/o la presencia del síndrome congénito del virus Zika (SCZV, por sus siglas en portugués) en el niño. También pretende favorecer la reflexión respecto a la construcción del vínculo madre-bebé en este escenario. La relevancia del estudio se produce no solamente por el hecho de que el SCZV sea todavía poco conocido, con una enorme capacidad de dispersión, y con muchas dudas respecto a las consecuencias físicas y el impacto psíquico causado, sino también por la urgencia en proporcionar a las familias y/o cuidadores directrices de acogida y alternativas para enfrentarse a esta enfermedad. El estudio se desarrolló en un ambulatorio específico para el cuidado de niños con SCZV de la Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas en Pediatría de un hospital terciario del Sistema Único de Salud (SUS) en Río de Janeiro, Brasil. El equipo estaba caracterizado como multiprofesional y cada uno de sus integrantes realizó una evaluación a partir de un campo de saber específico. La investigación de cuño cualitativo se realizó a partir de la observación participante. El análisis de datos reveló que la utilización de las redes sociales virtuales, independientemente de los caminos seguidos por la medicina, funciona como un vehículo de comunicación y discusión colectiva sobre diferentes vivencias, con el fin de compartir estrategias para la superación de las imposibilidades diagnosticadas.

Abstract: This article aims to discuss the impacts of the promotion of families' mental health following the diagnosis of Zika virus infection in the pregnant woman and/or congenital Zika virus syndrome (CZVS) in the infant. The study also aims to foster reflection on mother-infant bonding in this context. The study is relevant not only because there is still so much to learn about CZVS, with its enormous capacity for dispersion and many doubts as to the physical consequences and psychological impacts, but also due to the urgent need to provide families and/or caregivers with guidelines for care and alternatives for dealing with the illness. The study was conducted in an outpatient clinic specifically providing care to children with CZVS at the Unit for Infectious Diseases in Pediatrics in a tertiary hospital of the Brazilian Unified National Health System (SUS) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The team is multidisciplinary, and each member conducts an assessment based on their specific field of knowledge. This qualitative study drew on participant observation, and the data analysis showed that the use of virtual social networks, which function (independently of the medicine approaches) as channels for communication and collective discussion of the different experiences, in order to share strategies to overcome the diagnosed impossibilities.