New research shows that neurological damage for babies who were exposed to the Zika virus while in the womb continues to unfold years after birth.
Developmental problems were found in one-third of the 216 children studied, some of whom were 3 years old. The problems affected language, thinking and motor skills development. Some also had eye and hearing issues.
Surprisingly, the researchers also discovered that fewer than 4% of the children had microcephaly — a smaller-than-normal head that is one of the hallmarks of Zika exposure in the womb. And in two of those cases, the head actually grew to normal size over time.
“Children who were exposed to Zika during their mothers’ pregnancy need to have developmental assessments over time, and eye and hearing exams should be
