Treatment
- There is no vaccine or specific treatment for Zika virus infection. Therefore, treatment is mainly symptomatic.
- Treatment is symptomatic and supportive, including rest and the use of acetaminophen or paracetamol to relieve fever. The use of antihistamines to control pruritis usually associated with the maculopapular could be recommended.
- Using aspirin is not advised due to the risk of bleeding and developing Reye’s syndrome in children younger than 12 years of age.
- Patients should be advised to drink plenty of fluids to replenish fluid lost from sweating, vomiting and other insensible losses.
Patient isolation
To prevent infection of other persons, a Zika virus-infected patient should avoid being bitten by Aedes mosquitoes during the first week of illness (viremic phase). Staying under a bednet –whether it is insecticide-treated (IT) or not – or remaining in a place with intact window/door screens is highly recommended. In addition, physicians or health care workers who attend to Zika virus-infected patients should protect against mosquito bites by using insect repellent (IR3535 or Icaridin) and wearing long sleeves and pants.