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Suggest Treatment For Memory Loss While Recovering From Zika Encephalitis Infection
Question: I have just recovered from a bout of Zika encephalitis, with grand mal seizure, contracted a month ago. At the time of infection I was living in Jamaica.
I have since moved back to the USA. Do I now have immunity against a second bout of encephalitis. I am 70 years old 240 lb and lived in the Caribbean with free medical for the past 20 years so as a result I now have limited insurance in the USA and can't afford hospitalization. I have been a commercial pilot all my life and doing medicals every 6 months, with an EKG every year. Prior to Zika I have had no problems. I had a period after the seizure of vagueness, memory loss, and episodes of what I have been told are Auras. I was put on 300 mg of Phenytoin per night. The Auras seem to have stopped.
I have since moved back to the USA. Do I now have immunity against a second bout of encephalitis. I am 70 years old 240 lb and lived in the Caribbean with free medical for the past 20 years so as a result I now have limited insurance in the USA and can't afford hospitalization. I have been a commercial pilot all my life and doing medicals every 6 months, with an EKG every year. Prior to Zika I have had no problems. I had a period after the seizure of vagueness, memory loss, and episodes of what I have been told are Auras. I was put on 300 mg of Phenytoin per night. The Auras seem to have stopped.
Brief Answer:
Read below
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
There is still a lot which has not been studied about the Zika virus. Whether one acquires immunity after an infection is a matter of discussion. There are no studies in humans on this topic. There are studies in monkeys which have shown that once the virus was eliminated when it was reintroduced the monkeys had become immune and eliminated it.
So scientific opinion is that if infected once you should acquire immunity, although there are no studies in humans. What remains unclear being a "new" condition is how long that immunity lasts, whether months, years or a lifetime. There is no way to know that for now since years of follow-up of patients is needed to have an answer to that. But considering immune response to other viruses in general you should be safe for at least a year (or longer).
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Read below
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
There is still a lot which has not been studied about the Zika virus. Whether one acquires immunity after an infection is a matter of discussion. There are no studies in humans on this topic. There are studies in monkeys which have shown that once the virus was eliminated when it was reintroduced the monkeys had become immune and eliminated it.
So scientific opinion is that if infected once you should acquire immunity, although there are no studies in humans. What remains unclear being a "new" condition is how long that immunity lasts, whether months, years or a lifetime. There is no way to know that for now since years of follow-up of patients is needed to have an answer to that. But considering immune response to other viruses in general you should be safe for at least a year (or longer).
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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