Zika encephalitis

Possible warning signs include severe or worsening headache, confusion, unusual sleepiness, a seizure, weakness, difficulty speaking, loss of balance, or a stiff neck. These symptoms are not specific to Zika; infections, immune conditions, stroke, and other problems can also affect the brain.

Zika infection can cause a fever, rash, joint pain, red eyes, or no clear symptoms. A clinician considers the whole picture, including recent travel, mosquito exposure, sexual exposure, medicines, and the order in which symptoms appeared.

Do not drive yourself if you are confused, very drowsy, weak, or having trouble coordinating movements. Ask someone to take you for urgent assessment or call emergency services. Bring a list of medicines and note where and when you travelled.

While arranging care, avoid alcohol and recreational drugs because they can make neurological symptoms harder to assess. Treat fever or pain only with medicines a clinician or pharmacist says are suitable for you.

Get emergency help immediately for a seizure, collapse, altered consciousness, sudden weakness, a new facial droop, inability to speak normally, severe headache with neck stiffness, or breathing difficulty. These need rapid assessment whether or not travel was involved.

Contact a clinician promptly for fever or rash after relevant travel, particularly if headache, marked tiredness, or new nerve symptoms develop.

Ask what other causes need to be ruled out, whether your travel history changes the tests considered, and which symptoms should prompt an emergency return. If you have a travel companion or partner who is unwell, mention that too.