Infectious Diseases Zika Virus Zika Virus Guide Zika Virus Guide Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment Prevention How to Treat Zika Virus Treatment is focused on the management of symptoms and complications By James Myhre & Dennis Sifris, MD James Myhre & Dennis Sifris, MD Dennis Sifris, MD, is an HIV specialist and Medical Director of LifeSense Disease Management. James Myhre is an American journalist and HIV educator. Learn about our editorial process Updated on August 28, 2022 Medically reviewed by Kimberly Brown, MD, MPH, FAAEM Medically reviewed by Kimberly Brown, MD, MPH, FAAEM Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Kimberly Brown, MD, MPH is an emergency medicine physician, speaker, and best-selling author. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Uncomplicated Infections Guillain-Barré Syndrome Congenital Zika Vaccine Development Frequently Asked Questions Next in Zika Virus Guide How to Prevent the Zika Virus The Zika virus can be frightening since you will often have no idea that you’ve been infected until complications appear. These may include miscarriage and birth defects. In rare instances, a Zika infection can lead to Guillain-Barré syndrome, a nerve disorder that can lead to the loss of motor control. Unfortunately, there are no medications or vaccines to treat or prevent an infection. Treatment, therefore, is based solely on the management of symptoms and complications. Uncomplicated Infections In as many as 80% of Zika infections, there will be no symptoms whatsoever. If symptoms do appear they tend to be mild and flu-like, including headaches, muscle and joint pain, mild fever, and conjunctivitis, among others. Verywell In most people, the immune system will able to control and clear the infection within a week or two. During that time, Tylenol (acetaminophen), bed rest, and plenty of fluids may be all you need to see you through the illness. On the other hand, you should avoid nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, Aleve (naproxen), or Advil (ibuprofen) until dengue fever, a viral infection closely related to Zika, can be ruled out. These drugs may cause severe gastrointestinal bleeding. Similarly, aspirin should also not be used in children with a viral infection as this can lead to a potentially life-threatening condition known as Reyes syndrome. Conjunctivitis Treatment Viral conjunctivitis is typically not treated; drops or ointment will do little, in anything, to help. Artificial tears and a cooled soaked cloth may help relieve some of the grittiness and discomfort. If you wear contact lenses, you may want to switch to glasses until you are better able to give your eyes a rest. You should avoid sharing eye makeup, hand towels, or eye drops to prevent the spread of infection. In rare cases, Zika-associated conjunctivitis may lead to uveitis (inflammation of the middle layer of the eye). This can be improved with a short course of corticosteroid eye drops. Guillain-Barré Syndrome Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an uncommon disorder of the nervous system in which the immune system attacks its own nerve cells, causing muscle weakness, loss of muscle control, and, on rare occasion, paralysis. Zika-associated GBS has, thus far, been constrained to a relatively small handful of cases in 13 countries (Brazil, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, French Guiana, French Polynesia, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Panama, Puerto Rico, Suriname, and Venezuela). The association is real, but rare. The underlying cause of GBS is not well understood but is almost always preceded by an infection of some sort. Beside the Zika virus, other common causes are cytomegalovirus and Campylobacter jejuni. Treatment may include the use of intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIg) commonly used to treat autoimmune diseases and plasmapheresis, a form of blood dialysis that removes harmful immune cells from the blood. Respiratory support and physical rehabilitation may also be needed. Congenital Zika If a mother is infected with Zika during or just prior to pregnancy, there is really nothing that can be done to prevent passing the virus to her baby. With that being said, even if transmission does occur, the risk of a severe complication is only around 2.3%, according to research published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences. In the aftermath of the 2016 outbreak, 122 cases of Zika-related birth defects—collectively referred to as congenital Zika virus syndrome—were reported in the United States. Management of Complications Congenital Zika virus syndrome is characterized by symptoms that can vary in number and range in severity from mild to life-threatening. Chief among them is a potentially catastrophic birth defect known as microcephaly, in which the baby is born with an abnormally small head and brain. Other congenital complications may include spasticity and seizures, intellectual deficits, retinal eye damage, and physical deformities such as clubfoot or arthrogryposis (contracted and fixed joints). Treatment, as such, wouldn’t be focused on the Zika infection but rather the aftermath of the infection. Among the options: Microcephaly treatment is mainly supportive. While some children will not have any symptoms other than a decreased head size, others may require lifelong care from a multidisciplinary team of specialists, including neurologists, psychiatrists, physical therapists, and speech therapists. Spasticity and seizures may be treated with antiepileptic medications. Retinal injuries, including macular scarring and chorioretinal atrophy, may require surgery to prevent vision loss and blindness. Physical deformities such as clubfoot or arthrogryposis may be treated with braces, occupational therapy, medical procedures (such as serial stretching and casting), and surgeries like Achilles tenotomy. Zika Doctor Discussion Guide Get our printable guide for your next doctor's appointment to help you ask the right questions. Download PDF Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. Vaccine Development With no medications to treat a Zika infection or prevent transmission from mother to child, increasing focus has been placed on accelerating vaccine research. While there are currently no vaccines available to prevent Zika, a Phase II human trial was approved in March 2017 to test a genetically engineered vaccine based on the same model used to develop the West Nile virus vaccine. If the initial results are positive, larger phase III may be launched as early as 2020. Other vaccines are in trials as well. Frequently Asked Questions How do you test for the Zika virus? Your doctor may order a blood or urine test to diagnose the Zika virus. These labs could involve a molecular test, which looks for the virus itself, or a serological test, which looks for the presence of antibodies indicating a Zika infection. How dangerous is the Zika virus? The Zika virus is usually mild and most people recover without complications. However, it can cause serious birth defects, including microcephaly. In rare cases, Zika may cause Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), swelling of the brain or spinal cord, or a blood disorder that leads to slow clotting. How can you prevent the Zika virus? The best way to prevent Zika is to protect yourself from mosquitos: Use insect repellent, wear long sleeves and long pants, repair any holes in window screens, and buy a mosquito bed net if you're sleeping outside. You can also get Zika by having sex with someone who's infected. If your partner might be infected, protect yourself from getting Zika by using condoms or avoiding sex, especially if pregnant. How to Prevent the Zika Virus 9 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Haby MM, Pinart M, Elias V, Reveiz L. Prevalence of asymptomatic Zika virus infection: a systematic review. Bulletin of the World Health Organization. 2018;96:402-413D. doi:10.2471/BLT.17.201541 Miner JJ, Sene A, Richner JM, et al. Zika Virus Infection in Mice Causes Panuveitis with Shedding of Virus in Tears. Cell Rep. 2016;16(12):3208-3218. doi:10.1016/j.celrep.2016.08.079 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Zika and Guillain-Barré Syndrome. Coelho AVC, Crovella S. Microcephaly Prevalence in Infants Born to Zika Virus-Infected Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Int J Mol Sci. 2017;18(8):1714. doi:10.3390/ijms18081714 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Care for Babies with Congenital Zika Syndrome. National Institutes of Health. US Department of Health & Human Services. NIH begins clinical trial of live, attenuated Zika vaccine. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Testing for Zika. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Zika virus: Health effects & risks. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Zika virus: Prevention and transmission. Additional Reading Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Clinical Guidance for Healthcare Providers for Prevention of Sexual Transmission of Zika Virus." Atlanta, Georgia. National Institutes of Health. "NIH begins testing investigational Zika vaccine in humans." Bethesda, Maryland. Campos Coelho, A. and Crovella, S. "Microcephaly Prevalence in Infants Born to Zika Virus-Infected Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis." Int J Mol Sci. 2017; 19(8):1714. DOI: 10.3390/ijms18081714. Mlakar, J.; Korva, M.; Tul. N. "Zika Virus Associated with Microcephaly." N Engl J Med. 2016; 374:951-958. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1600651. Reynolds, M.; Jones, A.; Petersen, E. et al. "Vital Signs: Update on Zika Virus-Associated Birth Defects and Evaluation of All U.S. Infants with Congenital Zika Virus Exposure - U.S. Zika Pregnancy Registry, 2016." 2017; 66(13):366-373. DOI: 10.15585/mmwr.mm6613e1. By James Myhre & Dennis Sifris, MD Dennis Sifris, MD, is an HIV specialist and Medical Director of LifeSense Disease Management. James Myhre is an American journalist and HIV educator. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit