A brief yet detailed observation of Zika's effects on the skin and mucus membrane was recently published in JAMA Dermatology.
For the article, Amit Garg, MD, of the Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine in New Hyde Park, N.Y., and coauthors observed Zika symptoms in a 44-year-old man who'd contracted Zika on a six-day trip to Puerto Rico.
The man experienced an erythematous eruption on the arms, dorsal side of the hands and the palms. Itching was not a prominent feature of the rash. The patient also experienced bloodshot eyes. As the erythematous eruption faded from the upper body, it intensified in the lower body. The rash was most pronounced on the feet and knees. The patient reported a severe burning sensation on the feet. After five days, the symptoms improved — after eight days, they'd dissipated entirely.
The authors conclude, "We have detailed the morphologic mucocutaneous findings and histologic characteristics of lesional skin that may support the healthcare community in recognizing exanthems suspected to be related to ZIKV [Zika] infection and perhaps in eliminating it from consideration for concerned patients who present with other, more common eruptions."
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