Zika: what is it, symptoms and treatment

Zika is a disease caused by mosquito bite Aedes Aegypti, also known as zancudo patas blancas, which generates symptoms that include low fever, pain in the muscles and in the joints, apart from reddening in the eyes and red spots on the skin. The illness is transmitted by the dengue mosquito, and the symptoms usually appear 10 days after the bite. Asimism, there are cases of people who have contaminated others through sexual contact without control.

One of the major complications of zika occurs when the embarassed is infected with the virus, which can cause problems in the fetus such as microcephaly, a serious neurological illness. On the other hand, the treatment is carried out using medications prescribed by the doctor, such as antiallergics and analgesics, for example, to relieve symptoms, and it is also recommended to keep rest, take care of food and consume a lot of liquids to speed up recovery.

main symptoms

The symptoms of zika are similar to those of Dengue, but the Zika virus is weaker, because the symptoms are milder and disappear from 4 to 7 days approximately; However, it is important to see a doctor to confirm if you really have the illness. At the beginning, the symptoms can be confused with a simple flu, causing:

1. Low fever

The low fever can vary between 37.8 °C and 38.5 °C, this occurs because with the entry of the virus into the organism there is an increase in the production of antibodies causing an elevation of the body temperature, which is why the fever does not develop. be considered something bad, but it demonstrates that the anti-bodies are working to combat the invading agent.

how to relieve: In addition to the medications prescribed by the doctor, it may be useful to avoid very hot clothes, take a light bath to adjust the skin temperature or put slightly cold cloths on the back of the neck, in the front and in the armpits to reduce the body temperature .

2. Red spots on the skin

These occur all over the body and are slightly elevated, these spots begin on the face and spread throughout the rest of the body and sometimes they can be confused with other diseases such as measles or dengue. At the medical point, the performance of the tourniquet test is also called to prevent the lazo or Rumpel-Leede can differentiate the symptoms of dengue, and the result will always be negative in the case of Zika. Unlike dengue, zika cannot cause bleeding complications.

3. Comezón in the body

In addition to the small spots on the skin, zika also causes skin rash in most cases, without onset of onset takes 5 days to decrease, and can be treated with antihistamines prescribed by a doctor.

how to relieve: Taking cold baths can help relieve the picazón. Applying a cornstarch or a fine oatmeal pad on the most affected areas can also help to control this symptom and soothe the skin.

4. Pain in the joints and muscles

The pain caused by zika affects all the muscles of the body, and occurs mainly in the small joints of the hands and the pies. In addition, the region may be slightly swollen and red, as is also the case with arthritis. The pain can be more intense when the joints change, in rest due to less.

how to relieve: Medications such as Paracetamol and Dipyrone are useful to relieve this pain, however, it is also possible to use cold compresses to help reduce inflammation in the joints, thus relieving pain and discomfort. In addition to this, it is also important to stay at rest to help the body recover.

5. Headache

The headache caused by zika mainly affects the back of the eyes, and the person may have the sensation that the head is throbbing, but in some people the headache is very strong.

how to relieve: put cold water compresses in front of you and take a cup of tea in manzanilla can help alleviate this discomfort.

6. Physical and mental fatigue

Because the immune system is fighting the virus, there is an increase in energy expenditure, and as a result the person feels more tired, with difficulty to move and concentrate. This occurs as a form of protection of the organism so that the person can rest and the body can concentrate on fighting the virus.

how to relieve: you should rest as much as possible, drink plenty of water and oral rehydration fluid, similar to the candidad oriented towards the treatment of dengue, so how to evaluate the possibility of not attending school or work.

7. Redness and sensitivity in eyes

This reddening is caused by the increase in periorbital blood circulation. Despite being similar to conjunctivitis in the absence of yellowish secretion, there may also be a slight increase in the production of tears. In addition to this, the eyes become more sensible in the light of the day and it can be more comfortable to use dark glasses or lenses.

See other causes of ojos rojos.

How the Zika virus is transmitted

The Zika virus is transmitted to humans through mosquito bites Aedes Aegypti, which generally suelen picar at the end of the afternoon and at night. Watch the video for the continuation on how to protect yourself from the mosquito Aedes Aegypti:

The virus can also be transmitted from mother to child during embarrassment, causing a serious sequel called microcephaly, and also through sexual relationships without condoms with people who suffer the illness, a cause that is still being studied by scientists.

Furthermore, there is also a suspicion that Zika can be transmitted through the mother’s milk, as the baby develops the symptoms of this disease, and also through saliva, but these hypotheses have not been confirmed, apparently. are very rare.

How is the treatment performed?

There is no specific treatment or medication for the Zika virus and, therefore, the doctor only recommends medication to relieve symptoms and facilitate recovery, some of them are:

• Painkillers such as Paracetamol or Dipirone, every 6 hours to combat pain and fever;
• Antiallergic such as Loratadina, Cetirizine or Hydroxyzine to relieve skin swelling, eyes and body comezón;
• lubricating eye drops, that it should be applied in los ojos between 3 to 6 times a day;
• Oral rehydration serum and other liquids, to avoid dehydration, according to medical advice.

Apart from medications, it is important to keep rest for 7 days, eating a diet rich in vitamins and minerals, increasing your water and liquid intake to recover faster.

In addition, medications that contain acetylsalicylic acid such as aspirin must not be used, as it occurs in the case of dengue, which can increase the risk of bleeding.

See a list of drugs that are contraindicated in these two illnesses.

Zika Complications

Although normally Zika is milder than dengue, in some people complications such as Guillain-Barré syndrome can arise, in which the immune system itself starts to attack the body’s nerve cells. Know more about what this syndrome is and how the treatment is carried out.

In addition to this, in the case of women embarassed with zika, they are also at greater risk of having a baby with microcephaly, which is a serious neurological disorder.

Therefore, if in addition to the typical symptoms of zika, if the person presents any changes in the illnesses they have, such as diabetes or hypertension, if the symptoms worsen, you should see a doctor as soon as possible to carry out tests and start intensive treatment.