Last Updated on June 4, 2020 by Saurabh Sethi, MD, MPH
Zika STD Brief
Today’s post and posts to follow will consist of The STI Project’s STI/STD Briefs. These briefs are intended to give readers (specifically those readers who weren’t aware many of these STDs existed) an overview of each STD, their commonality, treatment options, and diagnostic tests available.
This information is by no means all-encompassing and The STI Project encourages using these briefs as primers and then further delving into the resources section when subsequent questions arise.
Zika Symptoms, Test & Treatment
Common? Uncommon – Around 6,000 people infected in the U.S. annually
Symptoms Many people infected don’t have symptoms. If they do have symptoms, they can be mild and range from a fever, headache, or rash to joint pain, red eyes, or muscle pain.
Cure? There is no specific cure or treatment for Zika.
Bacterial/Viral/Fungal/Parasitic Viral
Test A blood or urine test can determine if you have the infection.
Life-Long? No
Life-Threatening? No, but for women who are pregnant with the virus, it can cause serious birth defects. There’s also a link to Zika and Guillain-Barre Syndrome, but it’s rare.
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Did this brief synopsis help clarify your questions about Zika? Is there a category you’d like to see or something you think should be added to the quick overviews? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!
