Pregnancy faces another growing threat from the mosquito-borne Zika virus. Reports have surfaced that fetuses, specially during a particular trimester, as well mothers are under threat from Zika virus infection.
According to The Atlantic, while research continues on the effect of Zika virus infection on pregnant women and their unborn child, evidence is mounting toward the seriousness of such a condition. The media outlet cites a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine indicates that infection of the mother with the Zika virus has huge consequences on the fetus.
Of the 88 pregnant women observed for the study, Zika virus infection was connected to brain disorders, problems in the central nervous system, blood flow abnormality and growth issues. Most worrying are the fetal deaths, which occurred in the third trimester of the infected mothers. One mother became caught infection of the Zika virus when she was in the 25th week of her pregnancy. The other became infected when she was 32 weeks pregnant. According to the researchers, both mothers had been healthy and had no other cause for a problematic pregnancy.
Based on the study, danger to the unborn child from Zika virus infection does not diminish as the pregnancy progresses. Centers for Disease Control's Zika Response Team researcher, Peggy Honein, said that despite the subject size of the study, its findings are still invaluable.
"We really want to understand which time period in pregnancy poses the highest risk, and if there are periods of pregnancy that pose no risks," Honein said. "That would be really helpful. It is a critical question."
USA Today reports that Zika virus infection remains longer in the blood of pregnant women than in any other patient demographic. Ordinarily a person will require a week to be relieved of infection. The media agency related the case of a pregnant woman, who contracted infection in the 11th week of her pregnancy. The woman had to undergo pregnancy termination when tests indicated that her fetus suffered massive brain damage. The Zika virus infection only ended for the woman at the end of her pregnancy.
Findings from the study, at the very least, demystifies the Zika virus a little bit more. In the light of these findings, pregnant women are advised to exercise stronger caution, especially when traveling or during sexual intercourse to avoid Zika virus infection and transmission.
