Motor Development of Preschool Children Congenital Exposed to Zika Virus Without Microcephaly

Abstract Background: The Zika virus garnered global attention in 2015 due to a Brazilian epidemic, prompting a public health emergency over a surge in microcephaly cases in newborns. Long-term monitoring and care are crucial, and studies on affected children without microcephaly are essential for understanding their development. This study aims to evaluate the motor development of children over two years old exposed to the Zika virus in Jundiaí, Brazil. Method: This is a cross-sectional, comparative study integrated into the Jundiaí Zika cohort (JZC) project. The assessment instrument was the Movement Assessment Battery for Children - Second Edition (MABC-2), which measures the motor development of children and adolescents. Children with severe comorbidities and/or disorders that prevented them from doing the tasks were excluded. Results: 69 children aged 44 to 80 months completed the assessment, divided into two groups: 25 children in the Exposed group and 44 children in the Non-Exposed group. The Exposed group presented an average Total Standard Score (TSS) of 8.52 (2.97), and the Non-Exposed group presented an average TSS of 9.56 (2.97). Both groups remained in the Green Zone of the assessment, showing a satisfactory development mechanism. Conclusion: This study showed that preschool children congenitally exposed to the Zika virus without microcephaly showed satisfactory motor development compared to children in the Non-Exposed group. Trial registration:This study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Faculdade de Medicina de Jundiaí (CAAE 55278022.7.0000.5412).