Increased Hospitalizations for Neuropathies as Indicators of Zika Virus Infection, according to Health Information System Data, Brazil.
Evidence is increasing that Zika virus can cause extensive damage to the central nervous system, affecting both fetuses and adults. We sought to identify traces of possible clinical manifestations of nervous system diseases among the registers of hospital admissions recorded in the Brazilian Unified Health System. Time series of several diagnoses from the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, were analyzed by using control diagrams, during January 2008-February 2016. Beginning in mid-2014, we observed an unprecedented and significant rise in the hospitalization rate for congenital malformations of the nervous system, Guillain-Barré syndrome, encephalitis, myelitis, and encephalomyelitis. These conditions are compatible with viral infection and inflammation-associated manifestations and may have been due to the entrance of Zika virus into Brazil. These findings show the necessity of adequately diagnosing and treating suspected cases of Zika virus infection and also that health surveillance systems can be improved by using routine data.
Christovam
C
Barcellos
Diego Ricardo
DR
Xavier
Ana Luiza
AL
Pavão
Cristiano Siqueira
CS
Boccolini
Maria Fatima
MF
Pina
Marcel
M
Pedroso
Dalia
D
Romero
Anselmo Rocha
AR
Romão
D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D062306:Geography, Medical; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D009421:Nervous System Malformations / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D000071244:Zika Virus; D000071243:Zika Virus Infection / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*
Aedes; Brazil; Zika virus; health surveillance; information systems; neuropathies