Congenital anomalies during the 2015-2018 Zika virus epidemic: a population-based cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Congenital anomalies are associated with several clinical and epidemiological complications. Following the Zika epidemic onset in Latin America, the incidence of congenital anomalies increased in Brazil. This study aimed to determine the frequency of congenital anomalies in one Brazilian state and assess potential factors associated with them. METHODS: This cross-sectional descriptive study was based on data concerning congenital anomalies recorded in the Brazilian Live-Born Information System during the Zika epidemic in Mato Grosso do Sul state from 2015 to 2018. Congenital anomalies were stratified according to year of birth and classified using ICD-10 categories. RESULTS: In total, 1,473 (0.85%) anomalies were registered. Within the number of cases recorded, microcephaly showed the greatest frequency and variations, with a 420% increase observed in the number of cases from 2015 to 2016. We identified an increase in the incidence of central nervous system anomalies, with the highest peak observed in 2016 followed by a subsequent decrease. Musculoskeletal, nervous, and cardiovascular system anomalies, and eye, ear, face, and neck anomalies represented 73.9% of all recorded anomalies. There was an increased chance of congenital anomalies in uneducated (odds ratio [OR] 5.56, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.61-11.84) and Indigenous (OR 1.32, 95% CI 1.03-1.69) women, as well as among premature births (OR 2.74, 95% CI 2.39-3.13). CONCLUSIONS: We estimated the incidence of congenital anomalies during the Zika epidemic. Our findings could help to support future research and intervention strategies in health facilities to better identify and assist children born with congenital anomalies.

Neurological Development, Epilepsy, and the Pharmacotherapy Approach in Children with Congenital Zika Syndrome: Results from a Two-Year Follow-up Study.

Clinical outcomes related to congenital Zika syndrome (CZS) include microcephaly accompanied by specific brain injuries. Among several CZS outcomes that have been described, epilepsy and motor impairments are present in most cases. Pharmacological treatment for seizures resulting from epilepsy is performed with anticonvulsant drugs, which in the long term are related to impairments in the child's neuropsychomotor development. Here, we describe the results from a two-year follow-up of a cohort of children diagnosed with CZS related to the growth of the head circumference and some neurological and motor outcomes, including the pharmacological approach, and its results in the treatment of epileptic seizures. This paper is part of a prospective cohort study carried out in the state of Mato Grosso Sul, Brazil, based on a Zika virus (ZIKV)-exposed child population. Our data were focused on the assessment of head circumference growth and some neurological and motor findings, including the description of seizure conditions and pharmacological management in two periods. Among the 11 children evaluated, 8 had severe microcephaly associated with motor impairment and/or epilepsy. Seven children were diagnosed with epilepsy. Of these, 3 had West syndrome. In four children with other forms of epilepsy, there was no pharmacological control.

Síndrome CINCA: um diagnóstico diferencial da artrite idiopática juvenil / CINCA syndrome: a differential diagnosis of the juvenile idiopathic arthritis

A síndrome CINCA (crônico-infantil-neurológica-cutâneaarticular) é uma enfermidade inflamatória multissistêmica rara, de início no período neonatal e caracterizada por febre, exantema cutâneo, envolvimento articular e do sistema nervoso central. É também conhecida pela literatura médica norte-americana como NOMID (doença multissistêmica inflamatória de início neonatal). Relatamos o caso de uma criança de 3 anos de idade admitida em nosso serviço com história de febre e exantema cutâneo desde o período neonatal. Apresentou crises convulsivas no sexto mês de vida e artrite simétrica de joelhos desde o nono mês. Na admissão, mostrava-se toxemiada, pálida, com um exantema maculopapular generalizado e artrite de joelhos e tornozelos. Apresentava ainda retardo de crescimento e desenvolvimento. Achados laboratoriais incluíram anemia, leucocitose, trombocitose, níveis elevados de proteína C reativa e meningite asséptica no exame do liquor. Os outros exames foram negativos. Os achados radiográficos dos joelhos, quadris e tornozelos foram anormais. A criança recebeu tratamento com antiinflamatório não hormonal, corticosteróide e metotrexato, com melhora apenas da dor e da febre. A etiologia da síndrome CINCA permanece desconhecida e nenhum tratamento tem se mostrado eficaz. Essa doença deve ser distinguida da forma sistêmica da artrite idiopática juvenil (AIJ), o principal diagnóstico diferencial.

CINCA syndrome (chronic-infantile-neurological-cutaneousarticular) is a rare multisystemic inflammatory disease with neonatal onset characterized by fever, skin rash, articular, and central nervous system involvement. This syndrome is known in the North American medical literature as infantile onset multisystem inflammatory disease (NOMID). We describe the case of a 3-yearold child admitted in our service with fever and skin rash since the neonatal period. She presented seizures at 6 months-old and bilateral arthritis of the knees since her 9 months. On admission she looked sick, pale and presented generalized erythematosus maculopapular rash, arthritis of the knees and ankles. She presented growth and mental retardation too. Laboratory Endings included anemia, leukocytosis, thrombocytosis, elevated C-reactive protein levels and the examination Endings from the cerebrospinal fluid showed an aseptic meningitis. Other test results were negative. Radiographs of the knees, hips and ankles revealed abonrmalities. The child received treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids and methotrexate, with partial response to treatment, leading to improvement in pain and fever defervescence. The etiology of CINCA syndrome remains unknown and no single treatment has been found to be effective. This disease should be distinguished from systemic onset juvenile idiophatic arthritis (JIA), the main differential diagnosis.

Síndrome de Aicardi: relato de dois casos / Aicardi's syndrome: a description of two cases

A síndrome de Aicardi representa 1 a 4 por cento dos casos de espasmos infantis e ocorre provavelmente devido a mutação ligada ao X. Apresenta alterações neurológicas e oftalmológicas características que incluem espasmos infantis, agenesia de corpo caloso e lacunas coriorretinianas (tríade característica), freqüentemente associados com coloboma do disco óptico. Para fetos masculinos a morte ocorre intra-útero, e para meninas, nos primeiros anos de vida. O prognóstico é ruim, com persistência das crises epiléticas e retardamento grave. Descrevemos os casos de duas pacientes com essa síndrome atendidas em nosso serviço. O exame oftalmológico foi decisivo em ambos os casos, já que as alterações características encontradas, associadas à agenesia do corpo caloso fecham o diagnóstico da síndrome.