10 Zika Virus Symptoms
Symptom #4: Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis is a condition that’s much more commonly known as pink eye. Pink eye is caused by inflammation of the tissues of the eye, which leads to them becoming red and watery.
In adults, it frequently presents as a non-purulent conjunctivitis (no discharge). However, serious findings have been described in healthy and immunocompromised individuals, such as disruption of the macular lining, and iridocyclitis or inflammation of the iris and the ciliary body (muscles and tissue involved in focusing the eye).
In newborns of women infected during pregnancy, microphthalmia (abnormally small eyeball), lesions of the choroid and the retina, hypoplasia or underdevelopment of the optic nerve, and iridocyclitis have been observed. These findings highlight the importance of ocular screening in newborns with a high suspicion for congenital Zika virus infection.
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