Things to know about Zika virus infection in children

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued guidelines on how to detect and treat this virus in children.

Mosquito Zika virus is currently circulating in many countries and territories, concentrated in Central America, the Caribbean and South America.

CDC recommends giving children plenty of rest, multiple fluid replacement, treating fever with acetaminophen and itching with antihistamines.

Diagnosis can be difficult because most children with Zika infected with mosquito bites have only mild symptoms such as fever (rash, sometimes itching), joint and eye irritation - these symptoms are similar to symptoms of many other diseases. CDC said doctors should suspect children infected with Zika virus if they travel or reside in the affected area within the previous 2 weeks and have at least 2 symptoms. There are no specific vaccines and treatments, so CDC recommends giving children plenty of rest, multiple fluids, treating fever with acetaminophen and itching with antihistamines.

Because symptoms are usually mild and go away within a few days, the Canadian Society of Pediatrics (CPS) does not recommend testing children infected with Zika unless the symptoms become severe and the child has just spread to the Zika virus.

While pregnant women are advised to avoid traveling to affected places because of their association with birth defects including small headaches, CPS said, all tourists, including children I should be aware of mosquito bites. In its report, CDC recommends the use of DEET-containing insect repellent at a maximum content of 30% for children and not for children under 2 months of age.