Dawaa Reference

acute

Zika Virus Disease

Treatment options, dosing, cautions and Egyptian brands from the shipped Dawaa Reference card.

Evidence status

Checked against the sources named below

Sources1 source

MSF Essential Drugs 2024 - paracetamol (oral)

Verified against2 documents
  • MSF Essential Drugs 2024 - paracetamol (oral)
  • Zika Virus - disease-level clinical article (zika-virus-disease-clinical.txt)

Verified date2026-08

Presentation reference

Is it this?

Reference only, to read alongside your own examination.

Symptoms — what the patient reports (4)

  • Most infections are silent or only mildly symptomatic
  • Rash, conjunctivitis, fever, and headache are the most common features, each seen in roughly half or more of patients [fever · headache · rash]
  • Joint pain, muscle pain, and pain behind the eyes are also common [joint pain · muscle pain]
  • Less often there is swelling, vomiting, and abdominal pain [abdominal pain · vomiting]

Signs — what you find (5)

  • Conjunctivitis and a rash favor Zika over dengue or chikungunya, which share many other features [rash]
  • The rash has a flat-and-bumpy (maculopapular) pattern, and any fever tends to be mild and brief [fever · rash]
  • A full neurologic exam is recommended because Zika is a suspected trigger of Guillain-Barre syndrome
  • Inflammation of the spinal cord or brain has also turned up as a rare complication
  • Infection during pregnancy can cause congenital problems including microcephaly [dysmorphic features]

Tests (7)

  • Routine labs are usually normal, though white cells, platelets, and liver enzymes may be mildly affected
  • Testing is recommended for anyone with Zika exposure who has symptoms
  • Pregnant women with Zika exposure should be tested even without symptoms
  • An abnormal fetal ultrasound suggestive of Zika effects is also an indication to test
  • Zika testing is built into routine prenatal visits at booking and again in the second trimester for exposed women
  • Test choice depends on how long symptoms have lasted (under or over 14 days) and on pregnancy status
  • PCR and antibody testing are used to detect the infection

If not this — what else fits (4)

  • Dengue is a key differential given the overlapping symptoms
  • Chikungunya virus infection presents similarly
  • Malaria should be excluded, especially with a relevant travel history
  • Yellow fever is also on the differential

SourceStatPearls "Zika Virus" - disease-level clinical article

Presentation findings are traced to the source above.

1

PARACETAMOL

1st line

Strength500 mg

Formoral.solid

Adult dose and duration

1 g three or four times daily, maximum 4 g in 24 hours - As needed for pain or fever

Paediatric dose

15 mg/kg/dose [child max 500 mg]

(Child 1 month and over: 15 mg/kg per dose, 3 or 4 times daily, maximum 60 mg/kg daily. Child under 1 month: 10 mg/kg per dose, 3 or 4 times daily, maximum 40 mg/kg daily. MSF's own weight table gives one 500 mg tablet three times daily from 30 kg to under 50 kg, so 500 mg is the per-dose ceiling; the 60 mg/kg daily total still applies.)

Dose by weight
3kg45 mg/dose
4kg60 mg/dose
5kg75 mg/dose
6kg90 mg/dose
7kg105 mg/dose
8kg120 mg/dose
9kg135 mg/dose
10kg150 mg/dose
11kg165 mg/dose
12kg180 mg/dose
13kg195 mg/dose
14kg210 mg/dose
15kg225 mg/dose
16kg240 mg/dose
17kg255 mg/dose
18kg270 mg/dose
19kg285 mg/dose
20kg300 mg/dose
21kg315 mg/dose
22kg330 mg/dose
23kg345 mg/dose
24kg360 mg/dose
25kg375 mg/dose
26kg390 mg/dose
27kg405 mg/dose
28kg420 mg/dose
29kg435 mg/dose
30kg450 mg/dose
31kg465 mg/dose
32kg480 mg/dose
33kg495 mg/dose
34kg500 mg/dose (capped)
35kg500 mg/dose (capped)
36kg500 mg/dose (capped)
37kg500 mg/dose (capped)
38kg500 mg/dose (capped)
39kg500 mg/dose (capped)
40kg500 mg/dose (capped)
41kg500 mg/dose (capped)
42kg500 mg/dose (capped)
43kg500 mg/dose (capped)
44kg500 mg/dose (capped)
45kg500 mg/dose (capped)
46kg500 mg/dose (capped)
47kg500 mg/dose (capped)
48kg500 mg/dose (capped)
49kg500 mg/dose (capped)
50kg500 mg/dose (capped)
Dose source

MSF Essential Drugs 2024 - paracetamol (oral)

Why

Symptomatic relief of the pain and fever only. It does not treat the cause, and the dose is the same whatever the cause is.

Cautions
  • Not endemic in Egypt. Relevant to a returning traveller; check the travel history.
  • Relief only - it does not treat what is causing the pain or fever.
  • Check every other product the patient is taking for paracetamol; combination cold and flu preparations are the usual route to an accidental overdose.
  • Reduce the dose in significant liver disease, chronic alcohol use, or low body weight.
  • RED FLAG - A pregnant patient with possible exposure needs urgent referral because of the fetal microcephaly risk; high fever with a bleeding tendency means excluding dengue or chikungunya before assuming Zika; and limb weakness after the illness suggests Guillain-Barre syndrome.
Egyptian brands
Egyptian brandManufacturerIndicative price
FEBRIMOL 500 MG 20 TAB.PHARCO3.50 EGP (0.17/unit)
CETAMOL 500 MG 20 TABS.MEMPHIS8.00 EGP (0.40/unit)
PARACETAMOL-MUP 500MG B.P. 20 TABS.MUP13.00 EGP (0.65/unit)
CETAL 500 MG 20 TABS.EIPICO24.00 EGP (1.20/unit)
ARKADOLOW 500 MG 30 F.C. TABS.UTOPIA42.00 EGP (1.40/unit)
PARAMOL 500MG 20 TAB.MISR38.00 EGP (1.90/unit)
ADOL 500MG 24 CAPLETSJULPHAR32.00 EGP
AUGICETAMIDE 500 MG 20 SACHETSAUG PHARMA50.00 EGP
FEBRIMOL ORAL DROPS 20 ML? strength differs? different route - not oral solidPHARCO4.00 EGP
THERA-LO 3.2G/100ML ORAL SUSP. 100 ML? strength differs? different route - not oral solidPHAROPHARMA5.00 EGP
2

REFERRAL & SAFETY-NETTING (NO DRUG THERAPY)

1st line
Dose source

Zika Virus - disease-level clinical article (zika-virus-disease-clinical.txt)

Why

Carries the referral criteria and warning signs for this condition, which apply whichever treatment is chosen.

Cautions
  • RED FLAG - Aspirin and NSAIDs are explicitly advised against if dengue fever is a possible differential due to hemorrhage and Reye syndrome risk.
  • RED FLAG - Pregnancy complications (congenital Zika syndrome, microcephaly, brain and ocular malformations) require specialized care.

Prices are indicative (dataset snapshot 2026-06); verify with the pharmacy.