Does gastrostomy make a difference in children with congenital Zika syndrome growth?

Introduction: Children diagnosed with congenital Zika syndrome often experience stomatognathic disorders that may compromise caloric intake via oral feeding. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the effects of gastrostomy on the growth and nutritional parameters of children with congenital Zika syndrome. Methods: This prospective cohort study included children with congenital Zika syndrome who underwent gastrostomy and were followed up by the Center of Support for Children with Microcephaly in the state of Paraiba, in northeast Brazil. The study was conducted between April 2019 and May 2023. Children were assessed for growth and nutritional parameters using anthropometric measurements (weight, length, and body mass index) and body composition (body fat) around 1 year before gastrostomy (T0), up to 3 months before gastrostomy (T1), and around 1 year after gastrostomy (T2). Results: A total of 18 children with a mean age of 47.2 +/- 18.7 months at the time of gastrostomy were assessed. Significant improvements were observed in weight-for-age (T1=-3.0 +/- 1.3 and T2=-2 +/- 1.9; p<0.05) after gastrostomy. However, 11.1 and 38.9% of the children remained below or very below the expected weight-for-age, respectively. Conclusion: Although gastrostomy may increase the anthropometric measures of children with congenital Zika syndrome, this increase may not be enough to achieve adequate weight.