14 Early Signs of Zika Virus

2.  Itching all over the body

Unexplainable itching, from head to toe, can also be an early warning sign of infection with the Zika virus. As the virus spreads through the body, a person can feel itchy sensations from the soles of their feet right through to their scalp. It can almost feel as though one has been pranked with a sachet of itching powder. The frustrating thing about this type of itchiness is that no matter how much you scratch it, it just doesn’t seem to go away.

Gentle scratching provides mild relief, and unlike chickenpox, it’s unlikely to cause scarring. So if you must itch, itch gently and with a gloved hand to try and limit further irritation. When it comes to kids, there isn’t a parent anywhere who has ever found that the instruction ‘don’t itch’ to be an easily followed piece of advice. It’s like picking a scab, you know you shouldn’t, but you do.