Mosquitoes are insects related to the transmission of various diseases. those of the gender Aedes, for example, they are responsible, in Brazil, for the transmission of dengue, yellow fever, fever Chikungunya and, more recently, Zika fever.
THE Zika fever is caused by the Zika virus (ZIKAV), which has the mosquito of the genus as its vector. Aedes, such as the THE. aegypti it's the THE. albopicts. Some studies also suggest transmission through sexual intercourse and perinatally (from mother to baby). ZIKAV is a type of flavivirus in the Flaviviridae family that was first isolated in 1947 in Uganda by researchers studying monkeys from the Zika forest (hence the name of the disease).
The first cases of the virus in humans were recorded in 1960, and the first major outbreak occurred in 2007 in Micronesia. In Brazil, the first registration took place in 2015,in Bahia, and was identified by researchers at the Federal University of Bahia after a major outbreak of a “mysterious disease”. According to these researchers, the Zika fever virus arrived in the country, probably, during the Soccer World Cup in 2014, since there were no records of the disease in Latin America.
the disease triggers dengue-like symptoms, but milder. A person with Zika fever usually has mild fever, body, head, and joint pain; diarrhea, non-purulent conjunctivitis, body spots and rashes, and itching. These last symptoms cause the disease to be confused with other health problems, such as allergies. Some recent studies have also demonstrated the relationship between the disease and the development of Guillain-Barré Syndrome, a neurological problem that can cause paralysis. In addition, the Zika virus is directly related to cases of microcephaly.
There is no specific treatment for the disease, but symptoms can be alleviated with some types of medication. So far, the most recommended remedies to treat symptoms are paracetamol, for fevers and pains, and antihistamines, to lessen the itching. There are no vaccines to prevent Zika fever.
In general, the disease lasts an average of 12 days and has no complications. Our immune system is solely responsible for defeating the virus. Despite being a mild disease, it is important to seek medical attention to confirm the diagnosis, since its symptoms are similar to dengue and Chikungunya.
Because of the similarities of symptoms to those of other illnesses, the clinical diagnosis of Zika fever is challenging. So far, the most recommended method to identify the virus is RT-PCR (Reverse Transcriptase Chain Reaction), a very useful technique for studying gene expression.
As well as other mosquito-borne diseases of the genus Aedes, the best way to protect yourself is to avoid the proliferation of these vectors. Therefore, do not leave containers exposed that can accumulate water and make frequent cleaning of places that reserve water, such as water tanks.
ATTENTION: When you experience the symptoms described in the text, immediately seek medical attention to make an accurate diagnosis.
By Ma. Vanessa dos Santos
