Community Health: Treatment, Diagnosis and Prevention

Zika Virus

What Is Zika Virus ?
Zika virus disease: is a disease caused by the Zika virus, which is spread to people primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito. The most common symptoms of Zika are fever, rash, joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes).
It is a flavivirus, part of the same family as yellow fever.
Zika is very dangerous because unlike some of those viruses, there is no vaccine to prevent Zika or medicine to treat the infection.



Causes of Zika
The virus is most commonly transmitted when an Aedesmosquito bites a person with an active infection and then spreads the virus by biting others. Those people become carriers when they have symptoms.
Symptoms/Signs of Zika
The most common symptoms of Zika are:

• Fever
  
• Rash
  
• Joint Pain
  
• Conjunctivitis (red eyes)
  
• Muscle pain
  
• Headache
  

How is Zika virus spread?
It spreads through an Aedes Mosquito

How to diagnose Zika
Preliminary diagnosis is based on the patient's:

• clinical features
• places and dates of travel
• activities

Laboratory diagnosis is generally accomplished by testing serum or plasma to detect any of the following:

• virus
• viral nucleic acid (RNA)
• virus-specific IgM and neutralizing antibodies

Diagnostic tests for Zika virus infection include:

• PCR tests during acute illness to directly detect viral RNA
• other tests to detect specific antibody against Zika virus in serum

How to Prevent Zika
Avoid travel to an area with Zika and if you must travel to one of these areas, talk to your doctor or other healthcare provider first before you continue on your trip.
Make sure you protect your self if you want to have sex so as to prevent getting Zika through sex,in case you partner is at risk for Zika virus infection.
See a doctor or other healthcare provider imidiately you notice any of these symptoms.
Take steps to prevent mosquito bites.
Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
Stay in places with air conditioning and window and door screens to keep mosquitoes outside.
Use Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents.  
Treatment for Zika

• There is no vaccine to prevent or medicine to treat Zika virus.
• Treat the symptoms:
• Get plenty of rest.
• Drink fluids to prevent dehydration.
• Take medicine such as acetaminophen (Tylenol®) or Paracetamol to reduce fever and pain.
• Do not take aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) until dengue can be ruled out to reduce the risk of bleeding.
• If you are taking medicine for another medical condition, talk to your doctor or other healthcare provider before taking additional medication.
• If you have Zika, prevent mosquito bites for the first week of your illness.
• During the first week of infection, Zika virus can be found in the blood and passed from an infected person to a mosquito through mosquito bites.
• An infected mosquito can then spread the virus to other people.

Zika Home Remedies/Home Cure
Home remedies can help reduce the symptoms of the disease and are as follows:

• Avoid aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) until dengue fever can be ruled out to reduce the chance of bleeding problems (do not use aspirin to treat children).
• Fluids to prevent dehydration
• Over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) can help reduce fever and pain
• Rest
• Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) for itching

 
Complications of Zika
A neurological disorder that results in babies being born with abnormally small heads. It causes severe developmental issues and sometimes death.  
Note :Unlike some of those viruses, there is no vaccine to prevent Zika or medicine to treat the infection.