Do you know those doubts about the zika virus that everyone has, but that no one answers right? Yes, today we came to end the myths and tell the whole truth about this virus that is causing many problems and generating many doubts in the population.
1. Can Zika be transmitted through semen and breast milk?
TRUTH. Zika has already been found in semen and breast milk in outbreaks of the disease in other countries, so it is safer to use a condom and stop breastfeeding while you are with the disease, following up for up to 1 month after recovery. it may be safer to use a condom until the baby is born because it is not yet known how long the Zika virus can remain in the semen.
However, most people who are with Zika will not pass on the disease to others and the only proven way to catch the disease is through the bite of Aedes Aegypti. Researchers are still studying cases to better understand the behavior of the virus and all its forms of transmission and possible complications.
2. Women who have had Zika can not get pregnant because they will have babies with microcephaly?
MYTH. Women who have had this disease can get pregnant without risk to the baby, but ideally wait at least 1 month after curing the disease to ensure complete recovery and elimination of the virus. Those who are trying to get pregnant should redouble their care using repellent daily to protect themselves from mosquitoes, avoiding the disease and its complications.
However, women who are already pregnant when they are infected with the Zika virus during pregnancy may have babies with microcephaly.
3. Is microcephaly only detected at birth?
MYTH. Microcephaly can be detected in ultrasound examinations that must be done throughout pregnancy. However, if the woman does not follow the prenatal care properly, it can happen that the microcephaly is diagnosed only after the child is born. But babies who have not been diagnosed in pregnancy or soon after birth can not develop microcephaly because this is a genetic disorder that does not develop after birth.
4. Is microcephaly a reason for abortion?
MYTH. The diagnosis of microcephaly is not a reason to have an abortion, and it is prohibited by law to perform this procedure. Thus, mothers who receive this sad news should seek help from doctors and family members to care for the baby with microcephaly so that it can develop as well as possible. See how life can be for the child born with microcephaly.
5. Can rubella vaccine cause microcephaly?
MYTH. The rubella vaccine has no relation to microcephaly, and pregnant women can not take this vaccine during pregnancy. Rubella is a disease that causes neurological problems in babies, but it has already been eradicated in Brazil, and vaccination protects babies from this disease.
6. Can Zika cause Guillain-Barré syndrome?
TRUTH. Guillain-Barré syndrome may appear a few weeks after Zika, appearing as a serious complication of this disease. See the symptoms and how to treat Guillain-Barré Syndrome.
7. Does Zika cause neurological damage in children under 5?
MYTH. When a child catches Zika this virus does not cause mental problems, but it is important that the entire population protects themselves from this disease by using repellents and eliminating outbreaks of still water at home and on the street.
However, children born with microcephaly have severe changes in the central nervous system, which compromises their motor and brain development.
8. Are homemade repellents effective?
TRUTH. Household repellents are effective to ward off the mosquito, but have a shorter duration and should be reapplied every 2 hours. In addition, because they are more sensitive to the disease, pregnant women and children should give preference to the use of industrial repellents. See which repellents are most suitable for pregnant women.
9. Does vitamin B1 work as a repellent?
TRUTH. Vitamin B1 present in foods such as brown rice and oats works as natural repellent if consumed daily through food, but can not be used as the only way to stave off the mosquito. In addition to the vitamin, it is still necessary to use the repellent and take care of the house to avoid mosquito outbreaks.
10. Can I get Zika more than once?
IS NOT CONFIRMED . It is not yet confirmed if it is possible to get Zika more than once, because the current virus can change and reach again people who have had the disease, as with dengue. Thus, it is best to maintain the care even if you have already been infected by this virus.
Understand in a simple way what microcephaly is and how to take care of a drink with this problem by watching the video below.
