Zika virus infection differential diagnosis
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Luke Rusowicz-Orazem, B.S.
Overview
Zika virus infection's broad ranging clinical symptoms cause it to be commonly misdiagnosed with multiple similar diseases that are also from the Flaviviridae Virus family. Performing RT-PCR laboratory testing in conjunction with plaque-reduction neutralization techniques is the primary diagnostic method to determine and confirm Zika virus infection. Zika virus infection is distinct in its milder symptoms with short length. The emerging correlation between Zika virus infection and complications that include congenital anomalies and neurological syndromes is distinctive.
Differentiating Zika Virus infection from Other Diseases
- Zika virus infection manifests through a broad range of clinical symptoms shared with multiple different diseases from the Flaviviridae Virus family, causing misdiagnosis to be common with the following diseases:[1]
- Zika virus infection is primarily detected and specified against similar diseases by laboratory testing, including:
- Performing reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) on obtained serum.[1]
- Plaque-reduction neutralization techniques to differentiate Zika virus infection from similar diseases by measuring the Zika virus-specific-neutralizing antibodies, allowing discrimination between Zika virus infection and other primary flavivirus infections.[1]
- Zika virus infection is clinically distinct from similar diseases by its typically mild symptoms and short length, with symptoms typically lasting 4-7 days total and not requiring hospitalization.[2]
- Zika virus infection-related complications such as Microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome, distinguishes Zika virus infection from other Flaviviridae Virus diseases.[3]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Zika virus. Center for Disease Control and Prevention for Medical Professionals. http://www.cdc.gov/zika/hc-providers/clinicalevaluation.html Accessed on December 10, 2015
- ↑ Outbreak of Exanthematous Illness Associated with Zika, Chikungunya, and Dengue Viruses, Salvador, Brazil. Emerging Infectious Diseases; Center for Disease Control. http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/pdfs/vol21no12_pdf-version.pdf Accessed on December 16, 2015
- ↑ "Epidemiological Alert: Neurological Syndromes, Congenital Malformations, and Zika Virus Infection. Implications for Public Health in the Americas". Pan American Health Organization. Pan American Health Organization. December 1, 2015. Retrieved December 11, 2015.