Sensorimotor Outcomes of Children Exposed to Foetal Zika Virus Infection

Sensorimotor Outcomes of Children Exposed to Foetal Zika Virus Infection During the First or Second Trimester of Gestation.

Introduction: It is estimated that more than one million Brazilians were infected by zika virus in the last two years. Brazilian researchers first noted the virus's potential association with microcephaly. Objective: This study aimed to describe the motor performance of children aged between 6-18 months with the diagnoses of congenital Zika syndrome. Method: This is a cross-sectional, prospective and descriptive study. The study population consisted of 31 children. Participants were evaluated using Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) and Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM).

Method This was a cross-sectional, prospective and descriptive study. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee for Analysis of Research Projects of the University of São Paulo - School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities - EACH, under the protocol number approved CAAE: 65822017.3.0000.5390. Parents or caregivers gave written informed consent prior to participating. Children were evaluated by Physiotherapists who had at least two years of neuropediatric practice in the cities of Arcoverde and Recife in Pernambuco, Brazil.

Sample Participants were evaluated in Salud Serviços de Reabilitação Clinic (Recife) and Mens Sana Clinic (Arcoverde) using Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS - prone, supine, sitting, standing, total score and corresponding percentile) and Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM, A: lying/rolling and B: sitting). Head circumference at birth and on the day of assessment (in cm), age (in months) and family income, as well as AIMS and GMFM scores, provided as means, standard deviations, and minimum and maximum scores. Qualitative data about sex, muscle tone (increased, decreased or normal), visual/ hearing impairments (yes or no) were also collected.

Assessment Scales To assess performance of the children the following motor scales and assessments were used.

1. Alberta Infant Motor Scale (AIMS) is a reliable and easy-to-use clinical assessment tool for the evaluation of infant gross motor development from birth until the acquisition of independent walking. AIMS is a norm-referenced measure of infant gross motor development. It contains 58 items, which assess the control and integrity of the antigravity muscles during observation of infant motor skills in prone, supine, sitting, and standing positions. It has been recognized as a useful tool to assess gross motor maturation during infancy, to trace motor delay, and to identify infants who may benefit from early intervention Supine, prone, sitting, standing scores and the total score were registered, as well as the age corresponding percentiles. Interpretation of an AIMS score is never made at the level of individual items, rather it is derived from percentile ranking established through plotting an infant's age to the closest week and his or her total score on the centile graph, the percentile rankings provided on the centile graph would be unaffected for all infants because all age differences are less than one week.
2. The Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) is a clinical tool designed to evaluate the change in gross motor function in children with disabilities. This measure consists of 88 items that evaluate lying and rolling up to walking, running and jumping skills. There is a four-point scoring system for each item on the GMFM and can be used with children above 6 months. In the present study, only dimensions A (lying and rolling) and B (sitting) were used. Item scores can be summed to calculate raw and percentile scores for each of the GMFM dimensions, selected goal areas and a total score.

Inclusion Criteria:

• birth weight between 2,000 and 4,000 g,
• gestational age between 35 and 42 weeks,
• zika maternal infection (confirmed by blood or urine exam) in the first or second gestation trimesters and having head circumference below 33 cm at birth.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Other diseases or injuries at birth such as Traumatic brain injury,
• Parenchymal hemorrhage,
• Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE),
• Obstetric brachial palsy.