Case of 44-year-old man returning from Puerto Rico with confirmatory testing
THURSDAY, May 12, 2016 (HealthDay News) — In one recent case of Zika virus infection, a diffuse papular descending eruption, petechiae on the palate, and hyperemic sclerae were key symptoms of infection with the mosquito-borne virus, according to a case report published online May 11 in JAMA Dermatology.
The 44-year-old patient, who had just returned to the United States from Puerto Rico, had no fever, a common sign of Zika infection. But he complained of headache, fatigue, and non-pruritic redness and inflammation on his arms, hands, and palms. The inflammation spread to his torso within 24 hours, before fading and moving to the lower extremities, notably the knees and feet. He later developed a burning sensation and joint pain in his wrists, knees, and ankles. Petechiae were noted on the hard palate.
Within eight days, many of his initial symptoms cleared up. Zika infection was only confirmed by blood and urine tests administered after the man recovered. Researchers are publicizing the case to highlight lesser known characteristics of the illness, which is usually mild but can cause serious birth defects and neurological conditions.
“Our aim [is] to provide a more detailed description of skin, mucosal, and tissue findings than exists in the literature, with the goal of improving awareness and recognition of suspected cases by the health care community,” report coauthor Amit Garg, M.D., an associate professor of dermatology at the Hofstra Northwell School of Medicine in New Hyde Park, N.Y., told HealthDay.
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