Early Growth Parameters as Predictors of Developmental Delay Among Children Conceived During the 2015-2016 Zika Virus
Charles E Rose1, Jeanne Bertolli2, Jacob Elijah Attell3
1National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA 30329-4027, USA.
Insights
Early monitoring of head circumference and length in infants exposed to Zika virus can identify those at risk for developmental delay. This allows for timely intervention services for affected children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Future Zika virus outbreaks pose challenges in identifying infants with congenital infections for early intervention.
- Investigating risk indicators for developmental delay in children with and without congenital Zika virus infection is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify predictors of developmental delay in children exposed to the Zika virus.
- To assess the utility of anthropometric measurements in predicting developmental outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Evaluated 120 children conceived during the 2015-2016 Zika outbreak in Brazil.
- Analyzed data from birth to approximately 24 months, including medical records, evaluations, and parent reports.
- Employed a Bayesian modeling approach to determine predictors of developmental delay.
Main Results:
- Head circumference (HC) and length at birth, and their growth rates, were consistent predictors across developmental delay domains.
- Decreased HC growth rate correlated with decreased gross motor z-scores.
- Birth and follow-up HC and length growth rates predicted developmental delay.
Conclusions:
- Accurate measurement and frequent monitoring of HC and length are vital for identifying infants potentially congenitally exposed to Zika virus.
- Early intervention services can benefit children identified through anthropometric monitoring.
- This approach aids in managing developmental outcomes in infants affected by congenital Zika virus infection.
Background:
Identifying infants with congenital infection for early intervention will likely be challenging in future Zika virus outbreaks. We investigated indicators of risk for developmental delay among children born with and without obvious manifestations of congenital Zika virus infection.
Methods:
We evaluated 120 children conceived during the 2015-2016 Zika virus outbreak in Paraíba, Brazil. We analyzed data from children at birth; ages 1-7 months and approximately 24 months, using medical records (i.e., anthropometric measurements diagnoses), medical evaluation (i.e., Zika/other laboratory tests, dysmorphic features), and parent report (seizures, developmental delay). We used a Bayesian modeling approach to identify predictors of developmental delay.
Results:
Head circumference (HC) and length at birth and rates of growth for HC and length at follow-up were consistent across domains of developmental delay; (e.g., for every 1 cm per month decrease in HC growth rate; there was a corresponding decrease in the gross motor z-score). Modeling results indicated that HC and length at birth, and follow-up HC and length rates of growth, were predictive of developmental delay.
Conclusion:
These findings suggest that accurate measurement and frequent monitoring of HC and length, especially in the first few months of life, may be useful for identifying children possibly congenitally exposed to Zika virus who could benefit from early intervention services.
