Presumed congenital infection by Zika virus: Findings on psychomotor development – a case report

Abstract

Introduction: the identification of Zika virus (ZikV) in the amniotic fluid, in the placenta and in newborns’ brains suggests a neurotropism of this agent in the brain development, resulting in neuro-psycho-motor alterations. Thus, this present study reports the assessment of children diagnosed by a congenital infection, presumably by ZikV, followed-up at the Rehabilitation Center Prof. Ruy Neves Baptist at the Instituto de Medicina Integral Prof. Fernando Figueira (IMIP). Description: as proposed by the Ministry of Health, the following instruments were used to evaluate the neuro-motor functions of four children with microcephaly aged between three and four months: The Test of Infant Motor Performance (TIMP); the functional vision assessment; the manual function scale development; and the clinical evaluation protocol on pediatric dysphagia (PAD-PED). Discussion: the children evaluated presented atypical motor performance, muscle tone and spontaneous motricity which encompass the symmetry and the motion range of the upper and lower limbs proven to be altered. The functional vision showed alterations which can cause limitations in the performance of functional activities and the learning process. Regarding to the speech articulator’s functions observed that the maturation and coordination of sucking, swallowing and breathing did not yet encounter the appropriate age maturity level.