Infants Potentially Exposed to Zika Virus Should Undergo Routine Eye Exams quoting

In addition, nystagmus was found in 6 of 24 infants with eye abnormalities; 4 of these patients also had microcephaly. Among the 61 infants without microcephaly at birth, 8 had eye abnormalities with impaired optic nerve and/or retina, the most common finding (n=19). Zin and her colleagues identified sight-threatening eye abnormalities in 14 of 20 infants with microcephaly, and 2 of the 31 infants with other CNS symptoms. Of those with optic nerve abnormalities, 18 had them in both eyes; 11 of the infants with optic nerve damage had bilateral optic nerve atrophy, and 7 had optic nerve hypoplasia (6 bilateral); 1 study participant had bilateral coloboma.Even among those infants without optic nerve damage, 4 presented with bilateral pigment mottling or retinal hemorrhages (3 infants). "We believe that all infants with potential Zika virus exposure should undergo screening eye examinations."For their research, Dr. Zin and her colleagues enrolled 230 infants with prenatal microcephaly—a hallmark symptom of Zika—and/or other symptoms, or who had mothers who tested positive for the mosquito-borne virus during pregnancy.




Through July 12, the CDC has reported 163 symptomatic Zika cases in U.S. States and 522 in U.S. territories in 2017. If that had happened, Zika might well have gone from being an exotic anomaly to being part of the new normal. Just because 2017 has been a good year for the fight against Zika doesn't mean the fight is over. Recent numbers released by the Centers for Disease Control indicate that Zika hasn't been picked up (so far) by indigenous mosquito populations. The scariest is that Zika is associated with an increased rate of microcephaly and other serious birth defects affecting the brain.

AAFP Webinar Offers Members Latest Zika Virus Updates

AAFP members can learn the latest about Zika by attending the free webinar Zika Virus: Updated Guidance and Recommendations for Family Physicians on July 20 from 11 a.m. to noon CDT. Story Highlights AAFP members can learn the latest information about Zika virus infection during a free AAFP webinar July 20 from 11 a.m. to noon CDT. The CDC in 2016 reported mosquito-borne Zika virus transmission in Miami, Fla., and Brownsville, Texas, as well as in U.S. territories. Zika Case Counts According to the CDC, so far this year, 148 symptomatic Zika virus disease cases have been reported(www.cdc.gov) in the United States. Webinar topics will include testing for Zika, sexual transmission of Zika, management of pregnant women and children with Zika infection, and use of the CDC's Zika Pregnancy Registry.


collected by :Lucy William
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