Descriptive study of suspected congenital Zika syndrome cases during the 2015-2016 epidemic in Brazil

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Clinical and epidemiological data on suspected congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) cases from southern Mato Grosso (MT) in Brazil during the Zika virus (ZIKV) outbreak in 2015-2016 were evaluated. METHODS: This is a descriptive case series study of newborns whose mothers were suspected cases of ZIKV infections during their pregnancies. The medical records of all the suspected CZS cases (mothers and newborns) treated by the specialized ambulatory service from June 2015 to August 2016 were analyzed. RESULTS: Twenty suspected CZS cases were included in these analyses. They were categorized into four groups based on the clinical and laboratory findings: confirmed cases (n=1), highly probable cases (n=13), moderately probable cases (n=5), and somewhat probable cases (n=1). The mothers tested negative for STORCH (syphilis, toxoplasmosis, other infections, rubella, cytomegalovirus infection, and herpes simplex) and other important congenital infections; however, specific ZIKV tests were not performed during the study period. Microcephaly was observed in the majority of these newborns, and all the patients showed altered cranial computed tomography image findings. Extracranial abnormalities such as arthrogryposis, and otological and ophthalmological manifestations were also observed. CONCLUSIONS: Although ZIKV was not confirmed to cause the congenital malformations, this study demonstrated that the clinical and epidemiological findings associated with a STORCH exclusion strengthened the CZS diagnosis. The suspected cases in MT occurred simultaneously with the first CZS cases reported in Brazil, suggesting ZIKV circulation in the study region during the same period.

Dengue epidemiological profile in southern Mato Grosso, Brazil (2008-2012)

Dengue is an arboviral disease that is a serious public health concern, especially due to its increasing incidence in the past decades. This study aimed to characterize the epidemiological incidence of dengue in 2008­2012 in Southern Mato Grosso, Brazil. This is an epidemiological and descriptive study of dengue in the 19 municipalities of the Rondonópolis Regional Health Office using data obtained from the Information System of Diseases Notification. An analysis of the number of confirmed cases of dengue, according to year, age, and gender was performed. Data was associated with the rainfall of the region as well. There were 13,580 reported dengue cases; 2010 had the highest number of cases, with 7,244 dengue cases. In 2011, the number fell dramatically to only 236 notified cases. With regard to age, the most often affected were young adults (20-39 years of age); no difference was noted regarding gender. As expected, dengue cases were higher during the rainy season. In 2009 and 2010, in Southern Mato Grosso, there was a significant increase in the proportion of dengue cases compared with other years during the period evaluated. However, a rapid decline in the subsequent year was noted, possibly because of the intensification of preventive actions in vector control. Interestingly, 2012 presented an increasing number of dengue cases. This fact highlights the importance of actively combating dengue in order to prevent future epidemics.