Ultrasound Screening for Fetal Microcephaly Following Zika Virus Exposure

Article

The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine released a statement on the use of ultrasound screening for fetal microcephaly following Zika virus exposure.

Microcephaly is a condition in which the size of the head is smaller than expected for age. This condition in fetuses and infants has been associated with the recent outbreak of Zika virus. Due to this association, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine have suggested ultrasound evaluation to measure the baby's head in pregnant women who have been infected or potentially exposed. Diagnosis of microcephaly by ultrasound is not always straightforward and can be complex. The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine provided recommendations on how to interpret the findings, including when to perform follow-up ultrasound, as well as a table of values at each week of pregnancy that would define the lower limit of normal. The goal is to provide the tools to healthcare providers to counsel women who may have been exposed to the Zika virus. The Society for Maternal-Fetal will continue to assist clinicians in tackling this new health threat.

For more information on the Society of Maternal-Fetal Medicine's recommendations and the Zika virus, CLICK HERE.

Source: Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine

Recent Videos
Roundtable of Vet IPs
Meet Marjorie Wall, EDBA, CRCST, CIS, CHL, CSSBB.
A veterinarian in a protective suit takes tests on animals on a farm.   (Adobe Stock 829620654 by Яна Ерік Татевосян)
David Angulo, MD, President and Chief Executive Officer, Fungal Disease Expert
Neatly Stacked Hospital Linen, Clean Fabric in Turquoise, White, and Blue Hues. Created by AI.  (Adobe Stock 1103251410 by HQAsset)
Valerie Cadet, PhD, a virologist, immunologist, and vaccinologist at PCOM Georgia
Vector-borne Diseases  (Adobe Stock)
Chicago’s Dental Society Midwinter Meeting  (Adobe Stock 7622055 by abricotine)
Cameron Memorial Community Hospital Series With ICT
Ambassador Deborah L. Birx, MD, senior fellow of the George W. Bush Presidential Center
Related Content