Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38956218›Full record

ArticlePediatric research2025

Cohort study: Neurological and cognitive-behavioral sequelae of acquired Zika virus infection among Nicaraguan children.

Jill F Lebov, Doré R LaForett, Anna Gajewski, Erica N Browne, José Victor Zambrana, Angel Balmaseda, Eva Harris, Stephen R Hooper

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Pediatric research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

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0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

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PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Jill F LebovSocial, Statistical, and Environmental Sciences, RTI International, Durham, NC, USA. jlebov@rti.org.
Doré R LaForettFPG Child Development Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Anna GajewskiSustainable Sciences Institute, Managua, Nicaragua.
Erica N BrowneSocial, Statistical, and Environmental Sciences, RTI International, Durham, NC, USA.
José Victor ZambranaSustainable Sciences Institute, Managua, Nicaragua.
Angel BalmasedaSustainable Sciences Institute, Managua, Nicaragua.
Eva HarrisDivision of Infectious Diseases and Vaccinology, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
Stephen R HooperDepartment of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. stephen_hooper@med.unc.edu.

Funding

Neurological Sequelae of Zika Virus Infection Among ChildrenR21HD095420 · NICHD · RESEARCH TRIANGLE INSTITUTE · PI HOOPER, STEPHEN R, KUAN, GUILLERMINA · 2019 to 2020
$409k
NICHD NIH HHS R21 HD095420
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundZIKV has neuroinvasive properties, and in utero exposure can cause birth defects, but little is known about the neurological and neurocognitive impacts of acquired ZIKV infection, particularly in children.

methodsWe assessed neurological symptoms frequency among ZIKV-infected children within one year after ZIKV infection. Three to 5 years post-infection, these children and a matched group of uninfected children were assessed via questionnaires, neurological exams, and neuropsychological testing to evaluate the association between prior ZIKV infection and subsequent neurological symptoms, and cognitive-behavioral function.

resultsAmong 194 ZIKV-infected children, 3 reported asthenia, 4 reported neck pain, and 10 reported back pain within one year post-infection. At follow-up, clinician-observed cranial nerve abnormalities were significantly more common among ZIKV-infected vs. uninfected children (16 vs. 3; p < 0.01), with vestibulocochlear nerve abnormalities observed most frequently. While ZIKV-infected children scored better than uninfected on cognitive measures, this difference was not clinically meaningful.

conclusionsNeurological signs, including paresthesia and cranial nerve abnormalities, were observed among ZIKV-infected participants in our study. However, we did not observe a meaningful link between acquired ZIKV infection and subsequent neurological, cognitive, or behavioral outcomes in a representative sample. An exception may be hearing impairment and loss, which should be explored further in future studies. IMPACT: Neurological symptoms, though rare, were observed and reported more frequently among ZIKV-infected vs. uninfected children. These included: asthenia, neck pain, back pain, paresthesia, and cranial nerve abnormalities. Neurocognitive and behavioral test scores were similar among ZIKV-infected and uninfected children. Our study suggests that ZIKV-infected children should be monitored for neurological symptoms and cranial neuropathy to better understand the full burden of acquired ZIKV infection among children.

Indexed as

Child BehaviorCognitionNervous System DiseasesZika Virus InfectionAdolescentChildChild, PreschoolCohort StudiesFemaleHumansMaleNeuropsychological TestsNicaraguaSurveys and QuestionnairesZika Virus

Identifiers

PMID38956218
PMCPMC12014469

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.