CDC urges hearing tests for babies exposed to Zika

However, while many have been focusing on how the virus affects women, pregnant women, and unborn children, some are wondering what the Zika virus means for men: how does it impact them, specifically, and what hidden dangers could it hold? Researchers were unable to find any other likely cause of hearing loss, leading the CDC to advise that hearing loss may be another of the health problems caused by the mosquito-borne illness. The researchers add that it’s possible some children born with Zika infections but without microcephaly could also be at risk for hearing problems, though this has not yet been determined.

“Children with evidence of congenital Zika virus infection who have normal initial screening tests should receive regular follow-up, because onset of hearing loss could be delayed and the loss could be progressive”, the authors wrote.

Chicago: A study in Brazil of 70 babies whose mothers had confirmed Zika infections found that almost 6 per cent had hearing loss, adding a new complication to the list of ills the virus can cause when women are infected during pregnancy.

The findings were published August 30 in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The remaining 20 percent reported mild symptoms such as a fever and rash.

Brain scans of babies born with microcephaly show scientists where the damage is occurring.

“From an imaging standpoint, the abnormalities in the brain are very severe when compared to other congenital infections”, report co-author Dr. Deborah Levine said in a news release from the journal Radiology, which published the findings August 23.

This new study says babies with suspected Zika exposure should get hearing tests, even if they appear normal at birth. It has also been linked to vision problems and brain damage.

Reproductively speaking, men – not women – have the most reason for concern after visiting a country with a large Zika outbreak.

The head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Tuesday made his strongest case yet for Congress to include funding to combat the Zika virus in its stopgap spending bill next month.

This Q & A will tell you what you need to know about Zika.