Autistic spectrum disorder in children exposed to the zika virus in pregnancy: a possibility? / Transtorno do espectro autista em crianças expostas ao vírus zika na gestação: uma possibilidade?

This study aimed to describe the neurodevelopmental of children born to mothers exposed to Zika virus (ZIKV) without birth defects. Nine children aged 20 to 46 months were assessed by the Bayley III Scales. Of these, one child had tested positive ZIKV-IgG, whilst the others had negative results. All children underwent neuropediatric evaluation and some had magnetic resonance imaging. Six children had developmental changes (language delay was observed in all of them); four with Autism Spectrum Disorder and two motor and language delay. Three children obtained satisfactory results in Bayley-III. The results shed light on the hypothesis that cognitive changes observed in five children maybe related to exposure to the effects of ZIKV infection on the maternal environment.