In which cases should pregnant women be tested for Zika virus?

This is an automatically translated article.

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor II Nguyen Thi Minh Tuyet - Head of Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Vinmec Central Park International General Hospital

1. Zika virus

Zika virus disease is an acute infectious disease, mainly caused by the aedes mosquito, which can cause epidemics.
The disease is transmitted from person to person through sex, blood, and mother-to-child transmission.
Incubation period is from 3 to 12 days, sick people often have symptoms such as:
Mild fever; skin rash; Conjunctivitis ; Athritis. However, about 80% of Zika virus infections are asymptomatic. In the guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of Zika virus disease, it is necessary to pay attention to factors that are suspicious in patients such as:
Living in and traveling to an endemic area within two weeks before the onset of illness; have at least one clinical manifestation or polyneuritis syndrome. The cause of other diseases cannot be identified such as dengue fever, chikungunya... the definitive diagnosis will be made through positive tests.

2. Which pregnant women should be tested for Zika virus?

A pregnant woman considering the option of testing for Zika should only do it if in the first trimester of pregnancy signs of:
Skin rash; Eye conjunctivitis ; Musculoskeletal pain, headache; Have had sex with a husband or partner who has tested positive for Zika virus; Are living in or have been to epidemic areas; 2 out of 3 symptoms appear: fever (usually a mild fever of 37.5 degrees C to 38 degrees C). Pregnant women who meet the criteria for suspected Zika virus infection mentioned above are assigned to have diagnostic tests to confirm Zika infection, including: IgM serology or Zika virus rRT-PCR gene amplification reaction from the disease. serum products.
The Ministry of Health recommends that pregnant women need to go to the doctor at least 4 times during the whole pregnancy, in which the first examination should be done as soon as possible in the first 3 months of pregnancy.

3. Treatment of Zika virus in pregnant women

For pregnant women who have been tested not to have Zika virus infection, symptomatic treatment should be instituted (if necessary). For pregnant women who have been tested and confirmed to be infected with Zika virus: pregnancy care should be based on ultrasound results. If the ultrasound does not show any suspicious signs of microcephaly or brain abnormalities:
Continue to monitor and take care of the pregnancy. Periodic ultrasound as prescribed. If the ultrasound shows signs of suspecting microcephaly or brain abnormalities:
It is necessary to transfer to a facility capable of prenatal diagnosis to confirm the diagnosis of microcephaly. Consider performing amniocentesis or other investigations aimed at screening for birth defects. If microcephaly is confirmed, further investigations should be performed to assist in diagnosing the cause and detecting other malformations. Provide sufficient information and advice to pregnant women and their family members to make their own decisions. Only pregnant women with all the factors suspected of being at risk for Zika virus infection should undergo screening tests. In case the disease is detected, the doctor must be responsible for providing information and advice for them to decide on their own to terminate the pregnancy or keep it.

In order to protect the health of both mother and baby during pregnancy, pregnant women should register for a package maternity service at reputable medical facilities for thorough monitoring, examination, and consultation. , there are timely treatment interventions when abnormal symptoms and diseases occur.
At Vinmec International General Hospital, there is a package maternity service as a solution to help pregnant women feel secure because of the companionship of the medical team throughout the pregnancy. When choosing Maternity Package, pregnant women can:
The pregnancy process is monitored by a team of highly qualified doctors Regular check-ups, early detection of abnormalities The package pregnancy helps to facilitate convenient for the birthing process Newborns get comprehensive care

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.