Abstract
BackgroundLittle is known about physical development of children with Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS). This study aims to evaluate the anthropometric characteristics of children with CZS up to 12 months.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study developed with 46 children with CZS living in Bahia. We used the Public Health Events Register, Live Births Information System and Childcare Records of Primary Health Care Services. Descriptive analysis was performed by distributing absolute and relative frequencies and median and interquartile range. The Weight/Age (W/A), Length/Age (L/A), Weight/Length (W/L) and Head Circumference/Age (HC/A) indexes were calculated for each month and expressed in z-score values, and the results were evaluated individually and by group average. Values between ≥ − 2 and ≤ 2 standard deviations were used as reference. T-Student and Spearman’s Correlation Tests were applied to verify the existence of any relationship between maternal and children’s variables with the anthropometric indexes weight/age and height/age at birth and at 3, 6 and 12 months of age.ResultsThe studied children had high proportions of low birth weight (23.9%), dysphagia (56.8%) and seizures (53.5%). The mean z-score for the HC/A index at birth was − 3.20 and remained below − 3 z-scores throughout the assessed period. The analysis of the indices equivalent to every single child’s anthropometric measurement showed a deficit in 20.4% of the W/A, 39.1% of the L/A, 9.2% of the W/L and 85.7% of the HC/A measurements. Distribution of the mean values of these anthropometric indices revealed a risk of delayed stature growth (L/A < -1 z-score). There was a statistically significant association between L/A at 12 months and dysphagia (p = 0.0148) and a positive correlation between breastfeeding time and W/A. No statistically significant correlation was found between any other tested variables.ConclusionsWe observed a deficit in the HC/A index, which is a common feature in CZS, but also a high proportion of W/A and L/A deficit. The average group z-score highlighted the risk of delay in stature growth for age, which calls attention to the need for health interventions, as this condition exposes them to a higher risk of morbidity and mortality.
Highlights
Little is known about physical development of children with Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS)
54.3% were male, 23.9% were born weighing less than 2500 g, 13.0% were preterm, 2.2% twin, 15.2% were children of adolescent mothers, 56.8% had dysphagia, and 53.5% had seizures (Table 1)
This study shows that a high proportion of the anthropometric assessments of this group of children indicate deficits, mainly those related to growth in height
Summary
Little is known about physical development of children with Congenital Zika Syndrome (CZS). Multiple defects of the oral and maxillofacial structure such as narrow palate form, abnormal insertion of the upper labial frenulum, posterior lingual frenulum, tongue anterior projection, delayed dental eruption and oral escape, harm the oral phase of food and are often associated with presence of dysphagia [12, 13] This can be characterized by significant impairment of the oral phase of swallowing, prolonged time for the preparation of the bolus, delays at the beginning of the pharyngeal swallowing phase and in the emptying of the distal esophagus, besides evidence of a higher risk of aspiration and penetration of food into the airways, typical of severe dysphagia [14]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
