Microcephaly Essay
Microcephaly
The most common and severe congenital anomalies are heart defects, neural tube defects, and down syndrome (WHO, 2015); but within 2016, microcephaly has been becoming an occurring topic of interest due to its possible association with the Zika-Virus disease. This has remained a lingering factor of concern towards women who live in the affected high risk areas (Galán-Huerta, ET. AL, 2016). Microcephaly is a chronic disorder that occurs in the prenatal stage and is found within 32 weeks of pregnancy. It is characterized as a condition resulting in a non-degenerative, abnormal forehead circumference smaller than four standard deviations of the average circumference. Although microcephaly does result in present head deformities, there …show more content…
New research has shown a possible association with congenital infection due to as well Zika-Virus (Galán-Huerta, Et. Al, 2016). The majority of women who are at risk of contracting the Zika-Virus live in the following indicated high risk areas: Brazil, Cabo Verde, Colombia, French Polynesia, Martinique, and Panama (where the virus lives in mosquitoes that are natural to that environment). There is no vaccination due to it being a viral infection, but there are preventive measures that have been implemented. These measures are common measures of protection against vectors which include protective clothing with limited skin exposure, the use of repellent, and water that is free of mosquito colonies. It also calls for the use of protected sex to prevent viral passage and pregnancy (Galán-Huerta, ET. AL, 2016). Although these measures sound simple, but they are commonly out of the reach for those who are of low income (which is common in the above countries listed) who do not have access to regulated water, repellent, and protective clothing, putting them at most risk of contracting a viral disease such as the Zika-Virus (WHO,
The most common and severe congenital anomalies are heart defects, neural tube defects, and down syndrome (WHO, 2015); but within 2016, microcephaly has been becoming an occurring topic of interest due to its possible association with the Zika-Virus disease. This has remained a lingering factor of concern towards women who live in the affected high risk areas (Galán-Huerta, ET. AL, 2016). Microcephaly is a chronic disorder that occurs in the prenatal stage and is found within 32 weeks of pregnancy. It is characterized as a condition resulting in a non-degenerative, abnormal forehead circumference smaller than four standard deviations of the average circumference. Although microcephaly does result in present head deformities, there …show more content…
New research has shown a possible association with congenital infection due to as well Zika-Virus (Galán-Huerta, Et. Al, 2016). The majority of women who are at risk of contracting the Zika-Virus live in the following indicated high risk areas: Brazil, Cabo Verde, Colombia, French Polynesia, Martinique, and Panama (where the virus lives in mosquitoes that are natural to that environment). There is no vaccination due to it being a viral infection, but there are preventive measures that have been implemented. These measures are common measures of protection against vectors which include protective clothing with limited skin exposure, the use of repellent, and water that is free of mosquito colonies. It also calls for the use of protected sex to prevent viral passage and pregnancy (Galán-Huerta, ET. AL, 2016). Although these measures sound simple, but they are commonly out of the reach for those who are of low income (which is common in the above countries listed) who do not have access to regulated water, repellent, and protective clothing, putting them at most risk of contracting a viral disease such as the Zika-Virus (WHO,