Neurological growth and development of children asymptomatic at birth whose mothers had Zika during pregnancy

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
• Main Authors: Ana Maria Peixoto Cabral Maia, Camila de Sousa Lins Azevedo, Rhaquel de Moraes Alves Barbosa de Oliveira, Francisca Kalline Almeida Barreto, Adilina Soares Romeiro Rodrigues, Adriana Rocha Simião, Ileana Pitombeira Gomes, Erlane Marques Ribeiro, Luciano Pamplona de Góes Cavalcanti
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT) 2021
• Subjects: Zika virus; Microcephaly; Child development; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-0180-2020; https://doaj.org/article/2d6d3a971a5348a5b28c9e2505cdc390

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Newborn who had Zika vírus but did not show microcephaly at birth may have neuropsychomotor development problems. We aimed to evaluate the developmental and anthropometric milestones of asymptomatic children whose mothers had Zika during pregnancy in Northeastern Brazil in 2015 and 2016. METHODS: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional case series study of children in Fortaleza born without microcephaly whose mothers had Zika during pregnancy. Home visits were undertaken to evaluate the developmental milestones and gather anthropometric data of the children and to conduct semi-structured interviews with the mothers to identify their socioeconomic and gestational profiles and assess the newborns after birth. RESULTS: In total, 30 cases were identified. Of these, 17 children and their mothers participated in the study. The median age of the mothers at the time of delivery was 26 years. All were symptomatic, and TORCH was negative. At the time of the home visit, all had growth profiles suitable for their age. However, nearly all children (15/17, 88.2%) presented at least one developmental delay, considering their age group. CONCLUSIONS: There were late changes in the neuropsychomotor development of children born to mothers who had Zika during pregnancy, suggesting the need for specialized medical follow-ups.