The Role of Pediatric Palliative Care in Congenital Zika Syndrome

Abstract

Purpose: Zika virus has been detected at alarming rates across Central and South America, prompting the WHO to declare an international public health emergency. Congenital Zika syndrome may portend life-threatening and life-limiting consequences. Neonatal presentations of congenital Zika syndrome may have severe neurologic malformations including microcephaly, cerebral atrophy, cerebellar hypoplasia, ventriculomegaly, lissencephaly, and arthrogryposis. Pediatric palliative care specialists can provide critical supportive care in symptom management and goals of care decisions for these infants and their families. Methods: This case report describes a fetal …