Maria Helena de Magalhães Barbosa

This study aims to describe neurological, visual, and auditory findings in children whose mothers had confirmed Zika virus (ZIKV) infection during pregnancy, with most of these children not presenting congenital microcephaly; Methods: an observational, longitudinal, and prospective study was conducted in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from March 2015 to January 2017, involving children with in utero exposure to Zika virus, following from birth up to 30 months of age. Results: Of the 2882 pregnant women admitted, 116 had a suspected ZIKV infection, of whom 33 had laboratory confirmation. Only one child presented with congenital microcephaly. Despite this, neurodevelopment delay was observed in 36.4% of children evaluated, radiological abnormalities in 29.1%, auditory abnormalities in 8.3%, and ophthalmological abnormalities in 10%. Conclusions: Newborns of mothers with confirmed ZIKV infection during pregnancy may present with varying degrees of visual, auditory, and neurological impairment, despite the presence of congenital microcephaly.

This study aims to describe neurological, visual, and auditory alterations in children whose mothers had confirmed Zika virus (ZIKV) infection during pregnancy, with most of these children not presenting congenital microcephaly; Methods: an observational, longitudinal, and prospective study was conducted, involving children with in utero exposure to Zika virus, following from birth up to 30 months of age; Results: of the 2,882 pregnant women admitted, 116 had a suspected ZIKV infection, of whom 33 had laboratory confirmation. Only one child presented with congenital microcephaly. Despite this, neurodevelopment delay was observed in 36.4% of children evaluated, radiological abnormalities in 29.1%, auditory abnormalities in 8.3%, and ophthalmological abnormalities in 10%; Conclusions: newborns of mothers with confirmed ZIKV infection during pregnancy may present with varying degrees of visual, auditory, and neurological impairment, despite the presence of congenital microcephaly.

Introduction The association between prenatal Zika virus infection and hearing alterations in offspring has been the object of some studies, although few have assessed children without microcephaly. However, a current trend to include prenatal Zika virus exposure in the group of risk indicators for hearing loss is noted. Objective To present a series of 27 children prenatally exposed to the Zika virus submitted to multiple hearing assessments over time. Methods A cohort of children born to symptomatic mothers with laboratorial Zika virus infection confirmation during pregnancy was submitted to an otoacoustic emission test, auditory brainstem response test (automated, neurodiagnostic and frequency-specific), audiometry, and imitanciometry over a period of 36 months since birth. The hearing assessment was performed independently of the presence of microcephaly or other apparent signs of congenital Zika syndrome. Results The hearing tests presented predominantly normal results. Some children had signs of middle ear pathology. The only microcephalic child had normal electrophysiological tests, as well as preserved audiometric thresholds, but presented altered motor responses to sound. Conclusion Prenatal exposure to Zika virus does not always determine hearing impairment. This risk seems to be more associated to the severity of the central nervous system damage. Hearing screening and follow-ups of the affected children are important, as well as further research in this area.