As Florida health officials deal with the spread of the Zika virus, state OB-GYNs are preparing for the unique challenges that come with treating pregnant women infected with the virus.
Christine Curry, M.D, an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and Jackson Memorial Hospital, told PBS NewsHour, that a year ago, most obstetricians likely weren't aware of Zika, which can cause microcephaly in newborns, or expected it to be dangerous. Curry volunteered to look into it further on behalf of her staff, she said.
“I knew from the get-go that it may end up being nothing, and just an interesting story out of Brazil, or it may end up being a reproductive game-changer—which is, I think, where we’re at right now,” Curry told PBS.
Thus far, about half of Florida’s 55 Zika cases have been seen by Curry’s practice. Screening guidelines have recommended testing pregnant woman—even those who exhibit no symptoms—who have spent time in parts of the world impacted by the Zika virus, according to the news outlet. It can take up to three weeks to get the results of a blood test to confirm a Zika diagnosis, according to PBS. Often, she recommends that women have a family member present to hear the results, since patients will be upset if they do have the virus--and unable to pay attention to her advice.
In addition to the initial blood test, mothers may need to be tested again for antibodies associated with the virus--and doctors will need to pay careful attention to ultrasounds of the fetus. Women who discover their fetus has microcephaly need to realize that this will be a “chronic, lifelong problem,” Charles Bauer, M.D., a neonatologist in North Miami-Dade, Florida, told NewsHour.
“It’s a brand new area. We don’t know very much about it,” Bauer said. “We could be looking at lots of other things that wouldn’t show up until the baby is older and going to school--learning disabilities and things like that.”
- check out the PBS NewsHour story