Long-term developmental outcomes of children with congenital Zika syndrome

Background

Eight years after the epidemics in Brazil, children with congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) and their families confront ongoing health challenges.

Objective

This study aims to characterize how virally induced prenatal brain injury impacts development and functional outcomes among children diagnosed with CZS.

Methods

We performed a cross-sectional study of a consecutive series of children diagnosed with CZS. Using validated neurodevelopmental assessments, we evaluated gross motor function, manual ability, communication, eating and drinking, and visual function.

Results

Sixty children (29 males, and 31 females) met the inclusion criteria for the study. Comorbidities such as epilepsy (90.0%) and undernutrition (38.3%), along with clinical conditions including dysphagia (68.3%) and dependence on tube feeding (31.7%), were observed. Our results demonstrate a majority of children at level V — the most severe level within a five-tier system — in the Gross Motor Function (86.7%), Manual Ability (85.0%), Communication Function (68.3%), Eating and Drinking Ability (40.0%) Classification Systems, and level IV in the Visual Function Classification System (38.3%).

Conclusion

CZS is associated with severe functional impairments and comorbidities, adversely impacting child development and quality of life. These findings reveal persistent challenges affecting the functioning of children with CZS, underscoring the need for continued support and specialized care.

Impact

This study aimed to characterize the long-term clinical and functional characteristics of a subset of children with Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS).

We found that eight years after the Brazilian Zika epidemic, this subset of children with CZS continues to demonstrate major functional limitations impacting mobility, vision, and the ability to eat and drink.

Our analysis documented a very high level of disability in several key functional classification systems.

Notably, applying a new instrument for visual ability among children diagnosed with cerebral palsy, we found that more than 60% of the study group have poor or very poor visual function.