How to protect yourself from Zika during pregnancy

As the Zika virus is related to increased cases of microcephaly, its prevention is even more important for women trying to conceive and for those who are already pregnant.

Thus, to avoid this virus, it is necessary to take measures that prevent the proliferation of the mosquito Aedes aegypti, which are the same ones used to prevent dengue, and use repellent daily to protect itself.

The Zika virus is similar to dengue, and causes symptoms like fever, headache, joint pain and red spots on the skin and eyes. Its treatment is made with painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs and eye drops, and the use of medicines with acetylsalicylic acid is prohibited, as is the case with dengue.

6 Easy Tricks to Avoid Zika

Here's what you can do to prevent the Zika virus:

1. Spray repellent daily

Using repellent helps to keep the mosquito away while avoiding stings but it is important to remember that the product should be reapplied every 6 hours for its effect to be maintained and should contain a substance called DEET. See which industrial and natural repellents are suitable for use in pregnancy.

2. Use a condom

If your partner has symptoms of Zika it is recommended to use a condom in all sexual relations because the virus is also present in the semen and can contaminate the woman in this way and is dangerous for the baby.

3. Having repellent plants nearby

Aromatic plants are excellent for keeping mosquitoes away, reducing the risk of being stung, so a good strategy is to have vases of the following plants near the doors and windows of the house: lavender, basil, mint and citronella. Here's how to plant and what to do so they do not die by clicking on: Plants that take Zika away and decorate the house.

4. Eat food with vitamin B1

Foods like flour and brown rice are rich in vitamin B1, which change the body's odor, decreasing the attraction of mosquitoes. The aroma exhaled by the skin of the person who consumes these foods regularly is not the same as that of people who do not adopt this food, and so the mosquito will prefer to sting the other person.

Watch the video to see more details about this vitamin:

5. Placing screens on doors and windows

Placing screens on the doors and windows protects the house because it prevents mosquitoes from entering. A good tip is to buy fine fabrics such as tulle and cut exactly the size of the window. Next, a velcro tape should be sewn at its ends and the male of the same tape applied around the windows. This is an economical and easy-to-wash alternative that can be adopted to protect against mosquitoes.

6. Avoid mosquito breeding

It is essential to avoid the accumulation of standing water to prevent reproduction of the dengue mosquito and zika virus, as it needs water to lay its eggs and produce the larvae. Thus, debris should be removed from the yard or abandoned abandoned land, empty bottles and buckets down, clean gutters and pipes 2 to 3 times a week, cover water boxes and pools and sweep the standing water accumulated in the yard or on the street.

Another important care is to always keep everything very clean, washing with soap and water, because the Aedes' eggs can withstand for 1 year in a dry place, only waiting for a minimum amount of water, as found in the cap of a bottle, to start its transformation into lava and mosquito.

Vessels of plants accumulate water and are great places for the mosquito to develop. Thus, you must put soil in the dishes that are under the pots, because it will keep the moisture to the plant and will prevent the reproduction of the mosquito. In addition to plants, it is also necessary to wash the food containers of domestic animals daily, which are usually in the yard and accumulate water.

Learn to identify the early symptoms of the disease to start the appropriate treatment.