title: Characteristics of the first cases of microcephaly possibly related to Zika virus reported in the Metropolitan Region of Recife, Pernambuco State, Brazil.
abstract: to describe the first cases of microcephaly possibly related to Zika virus in live born babies reported in the Metropolitan Region of Recife, Pernambuco State, Brazil.
  
  
  
  this was a descriptive case series study (cases reported between August 1st and October 31st 2015), using medical record data and data from a questionnaire answered by the mothers of the babies.
  
  
  
  40 microcephaly cases were confirmed, distributed in eight municipalities within the Metropolitan Region, with Recife itself having the highest concentration of cases (n=12); median head circumference was 29 cm, median chest girth was 31 cm and median weight was 2,628 grams; 21/25 cases had brain calcification, ventriculomegaly or lissencephaly; 27 of the 40 mothers reported rash during pregnancy, 20 in the first trimester and 7 in the second trimester, as well as itching, headache, myalgia and absence of fever.
  
  
  
  the majority of the cases bore the characteristics of congenital infection; the clinical condition of the majority of mothers suggested Zika virus infection during pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Ministério da Saúde, Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde, Brasília-DF, Brasil.
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vargas
authors.affiliation: Ministério da Saúde, Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde, Brasília-DF, Brasil.
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Saad
authors.affiliation: Secretaria Estadual de Saúde de Pernambuco, Recife-PE, Brasil.
authors.forename: George Santiago
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Dimech
authors.affiliation: Secretaria Estadual de Saúde de Pernambuco, Recife-PE, Brasil.
authors.forename: Roselene Hans
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Secretaria Estadual de Saúde de Pernambuco, Recife-PE, Brasil.
authors.forename: Maria Auxiliadora Vieira Caldas
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Sivini
authors.affiliation: Secretaria Estadual de Saúde de Pernambuco, Recife-PE, Brasil.
authors.forename: Luciana Carolina
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Albuquerque
authors.affiliation: Secretaria Estadual de Saúde de Pernambuco, Recife-PE, Brasil.
authors.forename: Patricia Michelly Santos
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.affiliation: Secretaria Estadual de Saúde de Pernambuco, Recife-PE, Brasil.
authors.forename: Idalacy de Carvalho
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Barreto
authors.affiliation: Secretaria Estadual de Saúde de Pernambuco, Recife-PE, Brasil.
authors.forename: Michelly Evangelista de
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.affiliation: Secretaria Estadual de Saúde de Pernambuco, Recife-PE, Brasil.
authors.forename: Nathalie Mendes
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Estima
authors.affiliation: Secretaria Estadual de Saúde de Pernambuco, Recife-PE, Brasil.
authors.forename: Patrícia Ismael de
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.affiliation: Secretaria Estadual de Saúde de Pernambuco, Recife-PE, Brasil.
authors.forename: Rayane Souza de Andrade
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Azevedo
authors.affiliation: Secretaria Estadual de Saúde de Pernambuco, Recife-PE, Brasil.
authors.forename: Rita de Cássia de Oliveira
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Vasconcelos
authors.affiliation: Secretaria Estadual de Saúde de Pernambuco, Recife-PE, Brasil.
authors.forename: Romildo Siqueira
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Assunção
authors.affiliation: Ministério da Saúde, Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde, Brasília-DF, Brasil.
authors.forename: Lívia Carla Vinhal
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Frutuoso
authors.affiliation: Ministério da Saúde, Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde, Brasília-DF, Brasil.
authors.forename: Greice Madeleine Ikeda do
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Carmo
authors.affiliation: Ministério da Saúde, Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde, Brasília-DF, Brasil.
authors.forename: Priscila Bochi de
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: Ministério da Saúde, Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde, Brasília-DF, Brasil.
authors.forename: Marcelo Yoshito
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Wada
authors.affiliation: Ministério da Saúde, Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde, Brasília-DF, Brasil.
authors.forename: Wanderson Kleber de
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Ministério da Saúde, Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde, Brasília-DF, Brasil.
authors.forename: Cláudio Maierovitch Pessanha
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Henriques
authors.affiliation: Ministério da Saúde, Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde, Brasília-DF, Brasil.
authors.forename: Jadher
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Percio
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008831:Microcephaly / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D017678:Sex Distribution; D000071244:Zika Virus; D000071243:Zika Virus Infection / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*