10 things about Zika Virus: Transmission, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Precautions, Treatment, Herbal management,

 The wild nature is beautiful but full of deadly germs and diseases. From the starting of human civilization our ancestors fought many battles against them. Our flagship in this world its self-represents the results of those battles. But till now we are not safe nor our upcoming generations. Every new day some new diseases, virus, bacteria are killing our peoples and we are unable to help them. Zika virus is one of them. Let's know some interesting things about it.

GLOBAL SENARIO

At first, Zika virus outbreaks have occurred  prior to 2015 in areas of Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific Islands but in May 2015, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) first time confirmed Zika virus infection in Brazil. But now it is spreading its wing to other areas with the good numbers of infected travelers to that particular areas. How far the actual mechanism to spreading infection is still under scan but it is a beginning of threat to our flagship in this world.

EFFECTED COUNTRIES 

Though many countries are effected but till it is with in few regions (American region, Oceania/Specific Island and few areas in Africa) and if some preventive measures not taken then very soon the whole world will be effected. Some of the effected countries are Barbados, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, US territory, Costa Rica, Curacao, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Martinique, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Saint Martin, Suriname, U.S. Virgin Islands, Venezuela, American Samoa, Samoa, Tonga, Cape Verde.

It is advisable to avoid traveling to hose areas or to travel with extreme safety measures. Pregnant women should strictly avoid flying towards that reasons as the massive impact of the disease reflects more on pregnancy outcomes.  

TRANSMISSION

This virus usually transmitted to people primarily through the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito (A. aegypti and A. albopictus). These are the same culprits, who spread dengue and chikungunya.  They are are aggressive daytime biters prefer to bite people, and live indoors and outdoors near people. Like other diseases Mosquitoes are usually uninfected until they become infected when they feed on a person already infected with Zika virus. After getting Infection on their body mosquitoes become the deadly carrier of those Zika viruses and then they can then spread the virus to other people through bites. 

SYMPTOMS

The most common symptoms of Zika virus disease are fever, Skin rash, multiple joint pain, and conjunctivitis (red eyes). A headache, muscle pain or body ache are the basic symptoms. This is some basic thing that happens in almost all viral infections. Clinically it is difficult to categorize Zika infection from other flu like diseases in the initial stages.

HOSPITILAZATION

One of five people infected by Zika feels some kind of illness. The Symptoms are mild in most of the cases and it lasts for several weeks. Sometimes patients don't feel the necessity go for a consultation with a doctor. Hospitalization is very rare unless a patient is suffering from any other associated diseases. Death due to Zika infection is a very rare thing. Most important thing to know about this infection is that like other flu it is not a killer. If you are infected then Zika will remain in your blood for few weeks. It will not produce any serious illness or deformity in your body unless you are in pregnancy. 

ZIKA AND SEX

It is seen that it can be transmitted to one another after sexual activities. So unprotected sex and multiple partners can be the victims of this virus if they go sexual activity with infected people. 

PREGNANCY AND ZIKA

If someone gets infected during pregnancy then the mother doesn’t suffer that much but the pregnancy outcome may defect. It has seen in many places, mostly in Brazil where plenty of  babies born with a small head, literally called as microcephaly and with poor health and low weight. Such microcephaly cases are nothing but a burden for families and nation. 

As the infection remains for many weeks in the blood so any conception during that period may be defective but no such cases have been reported so far. Zika virus transmission to the child by breastfeeding also not yet reported. 

DIAGNOSIS OF ZIKA

There is no particular blood test to identify the Zika cases. But diagnosis is generally accomplished by testing serum or plasma to detect virus, viral nucleic acid, or virus-specific immunoglobulin M and neutralizing antibodies quite similar we do in dengue and chikungunya similar tests are done for the identification. Your doctor many ask for few more tests according to your health condition and symptoms for differential diagnosis (from  dengue, other considerations include leptospirosis, malaria, rickettsia, group A streptococcus, rubella, measles, and parvovirus, enterovirus, adenovirus, and alphavirus infections).

PREVENTION OF ZIKA

There is no particular medicine for the cure from this Zika virus. Even there is no vaccine for protection. The only way to skip infection is to stop the flights of Aedes species mosquito. Such mosquito lay eggs in clean standing water so never give them a chance to multiply their numbers ans side by side protect your self from bites. It is better to avoid traveling those areas where it is pandemic.

TREATMENT OF ZIKA

There is no basic treatment available for the treatment of Zika virus or to prevent the birth defects in a new born. Some symptomatic and conservative treatment are given to patients. But everyone should also remember few thing that if you are infected then make sure that you are not going to feed the mosquito with your blood. 

10 THINGS TO REMEMBER (If you are already infected)

1. Take adequate rest and plenty of water.

2. Take all seasonal fruits, vegetables and avoid junk foods.

3. Keep yourself in the indoor and skip mosquito bites and by this, you can be a hero for your nation. Your one step can save others by non-transmission of this disease.

4. Consult with an expert health professional.

5. Take medicines (Basically conservative, like pain killer, antacids, vitamins etc)in due time.

6. Never think for a baby during this time.

7. Avoid sexual contacts and make your partner safe.

8. If you are pregnant then immediately consult with your doctor for further investigations and scans for determination of birth defects.

9. Benign a victim of Zika is determined to stop it’s spreading by drying all the possible places, where mosquito can lay eggs.

10. Never try self-medication and keep yourself away from medication as because till now we know very little about Zika virus. 

HERBAL APPROACH TOWARDS ZIKA

As I told earlier there is no treatment available for the Zika virus but still there are some hopes remains in the hands of mother nature.  Few herbs are there which are extremely beneficial. Such as Giloy, Tulsi, Carpoor, Aswagandha, Sajina etc. Which can be used as the home remedy? Other than this there is few herbal preparation are also there which are used for symptomatic relives and acts as the immune booster. Such medicines actually reduce the strength of viral effects and helps in quick recovery.