{"id":5412,"date":"2019-04-08T07:53:02","date_gmt":"2019-04-08T07:53:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=5412"},"modified":"2021-03-30T15:38:06","modified_gmt":"2021-03-30T15:38:06","slug":"14-main-symptoms-of-zika-virus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/14-main-symptoms-of-zika-virus\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Main Symptoms of Zika Virus"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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For most people affected by the Zika virus, there are mild symptoms and even sometimes no symptoms at all. If for some reason symptoms do occur, they’re usually only on the mild side, lasting a short period of time anywhere from around 2 to 7 days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are some symptoms with are fairly typical of the Zika virus, should symptoms develop, that people should watch out for. The ferociousness of the symptoms depends from case to case and from person to person. The biggest threat of infection is towards pregnant women, as the virus can cause birth defects in unborn children, such as abnormally small heads.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A summary of some of the main symptoms of Zika virus is listed and expanded upon below. They are ranked in no particular order as some people may experience just one or two of the examples, whilst others may be lumbered with the full package Until a person is infected, there\u2019s little way of knowing how it will affect their body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1.   Rash<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A rash <\/a>is one of the most commonly reported symptoms associated with Zika. In most cases, the rash forms at the site of the mosquito bite and spreads out from this site, with the darkest part being the epicenter of the rash. This type of rash can be quite sore and tender, but will usually clear up in a couple of ways. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marking the rash with a pen to track its progress is a good idea and soothing any pain with a wet cloth can provide relief. With Zika and other mosquito-borne illnesses, prevention is always better than the cure, but if a person is affected with a rash, they will usually only find that this is localized to the bite location and so fairly easy to manage. In some instances, rashes can appear on other parts of the body, though these are likely to be allergic reactions rather than a sign that the rash is spreading. Close monitoring and a careful eye are needed to ensure the rash gets steadily better as opposed to worse. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2.  Itching all over the  body<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When infected with Zika, an uncontrollable itch is likely to affect a person. This itchiness <\/a>sensation is not limited to the bite site, although this is perhaps where the feeling will be first noticed and maybe even at its worst. The scalp can become itchy from the forehead to the back of the neck, but it is the arms and legs which bear the brunt of the sensation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As with many insect bites, the body\u2019s receptors are thrown out of whack with the invasion of some alien body in the blood system. The body reacts by causing itchiness to spread, even without the presence of bites at some of the itchiest places. As with most itchy spells, actually giving in to the urge to scratch seems to encourage the feeling and add fuel to the fire. It’s a lot easier said than done, but trying to ignore the feeling is for the best. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3.  High temperature<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A high temperature<\/a>, similar to that of fever is often recorded in people infected with Zika. Temperatures exceeding the normal realms can usually be brought back under control with home remedies or over the counter medicines and it is only when the temperature continues to rise uncontrollably, that medical attention or emergency help is really required. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tolerating a high temperature and fever is much more difficult for vulnerable groups of people such as children, the elderly and pregnant women. It cannot be stressed enough how important it is for pregnant women to avoid being infected with Zika and an otherwise unexplainable temperature increased might indicate that they have been bitten. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The rise in temperature needs to be brought back under control as soon as possible so that further complications such as heart palpitations don\u2019t develop. Trying to ignore a high temperature is like ignoring a stop sign on the highway. Listen to your body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4.  Headache<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Headaches <\/a>of different types affect people infected with the Zika virus. Some people report of migraine-type feelings, where their pounding head is made worse by bright lights and their eyes\u2019 heightened sensitivity to this light. Others report a nagging but bearable headache type feeling going on in the background. Whatever the type of headache felt by an individual, Zika has the potential to cause headaches and make everyday activities very difficult indeed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With a bad headache, the tendency can be to lie down or sit still, and whilst the Zika virus is doing the most damage, people would be well advised to follow these tendencies. The will power to get through something like Zika can only take you so far before you crash and burn. Zika can cause headaches and with a headache comes dizziness, nausea, vomiting and more. With this in mind, over the counter medicines such as ibuprofen and paracetamol should be considered to tackle at least one symptom that you can actually tackle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5.  Pain behind the eyes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Our eyes are our windows to the world. The importance of eye health is paramount in times of wellness and of ill health. They inform so much and so when an illness affects our eyes, it can tend to draw the attention away from other areas of the body or other causes for concern. Pain behind the eyes caused by Zika <\/a>is not usually long-lasting and is usually part and parcel of any episodes of headaches. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Typically, the pain will be a throbbing sensation, leaving the person struggling to open their eyes for the pain. Increased sensitivity, blurred and double vision are possibilities that may occur in conjunction with the pain, but these are in most cases only temporary issues to deal with. Nevertheless, when you\u2019ve been relying on your eyes to read thermometer readings or track the outlined progress of a rash, pain behind the eyes is the very last thing you need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6.  Conjunctivitis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Strangely, the Zika virus can also cause conjunctivitis <\/a>to occur in either one or both eyes. This is a further complication or symptom that can hugely impact upon a sufferer, given the aforementioned importance we place on the use of our eyes. Conjunctivitis blocks up your eyes in a similar way to when the nasal passages come back. Acting like sticky, green spider webs, the mucus-like substance binds eyelid to eyelid and seems to interweave the eyelashes like a venus fly trap snapping shut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fly inside is your eyeball, or eyeballs, and until conjunctivitis has been cleared away using clean, warm water and cotton wool buds, it is unlikely that a patient will start to cheer up and feel better. It is vitally important to wash your hands thoroughly when you have conjunctivitis, to avoid contamination both of your opposite eye, and of anyone you come into contact with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7.  Lower back pain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Zika can cause lower back pain in a small number of patients, however, lower back pain<\/a> caused by Zika is difficult to diagnose, given the prevalence of lower back pain in society. Lower back pain can be caused by repetitive strain, or by one motion of excessive force. It can also be caused by landing with a heavy impact or lifting incorrectly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sitting or standing with improper posture is a huge cause of lower back pain amongst a culture of people who spend most of their lives sitting in chairs, be that for commuting, working or watching TV. When, and only when, all of these very common contributors to lower back pain have been ruled out for definite, should the Zika virus be considered as the cause? Even then, when it is suspected to have brought about lower back pain, it is still hard to prove. Keeping on the move is important and sitting down can be the enemy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8.  Muscle pain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Similar to how influenza <\/a>and other infections affect our musculoskeletal system, Zika has the capability to do this also. The muscles can begin to feel as though they have endured a heavy work out, or stiffen up when there is no real reason for this stiffness. The fact that muscle pain can be caused by Zika leaves the patient in a bit of a vicious cycle, as with the pain in their muscles inhibiting movement, the patient is likely to try and rest. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The double-edged sword here is that resting, by its very nature, could actually make the problem worse. The muscles once rested, will start to stiffen up or spasm meaning that the muscle pain is actually exacerbated with rest. If the patient can keep moving, and do so through the pain barrier, it might spell a quicker recovery time. Warding off stiffness is an important thing to do in the fight to relieve muscle pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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