Additional questions about Zika can be found on the CDC website – CDC’s Questions About Zika.
Glossary
- Amniocentesis– a medical test in which a healthcare professional gathers information about the health of a fetus by testing the fluid surrounding the fetus in a pregnant woman.
- Anesthesiologist–a doctor trained in anesthesia and perioperative medicine.
- Audiologist– healthcare professionals who provide patient-centered care in the prevention, identification, diagnosis, and evidence-based treatment of hearing, balance, and other auditory disorders for people of all ages.
- Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR)– a helpful tool in determining a child’s ability to hear. The test uses a special computer to measure the way the child’s hearing nerve responds to different sounds.
- Behavioral Diagnostic Testing– audiologists conduct behavioral hearing tests to observe a child’s behavioral response to sounds. These responses may include head turns, eye movement, raising a hand, or doing a simple activity, depending on the age of the child.
- (Cranial) Computerized Tomography (CT)– combines a series of X-ray images taken from different angles and uses computer processing to create cross-sectional images, or slices, of the bones, blood vessels, and soft tissues inside your body.
- Congenital Zika Syndrome– congenital Zika syndrome is a recognized pattern of congenital anomalies (birth defects) associated with Zika virus infection during pregnancy that includes, but is not limited to, microcephaly.
- Coordinated Care Center – a medical facility that has a team of experts trained in all the different types of medical care your baby might need. Medical care includes experts who may be doctors, nurses, physical therapists, social workers, pharmacists, or other healthcare experts.
- Cortical malformations– abnormalities in the development of the cerebral cortex that plays a key role in memory, attention, perception, awareness, thought, language, and consciousness.
- CNM – certified nurse midwife.
- Decreased brain volume– a decrease in the size of the brain that results in fewer brain cells.
- Developmental pediatrician – A doctor who specializes in the physical, emotional, behavioral, and social development of children.
- DO – doctor of osteopathic medicine.
- Electroencephalogram (EEG)– a test used to find problems related to electrical activity of the brain.
- Endocrinologist – A doctor who specializes in the diagnosis, control, and treatment of diseases related to the endocrine glands and hormones.
- FNP-BC – family nurse practitioner (certified by ANCC)
- (Prenatal) Genetic Testing– used to determine whether a fetus has a disease or genetic abnormality.
- Infectious disease specialist – A doctor who specializes in the diagnosis, control, and treatment of infections.
- LCSW – licensed clinical social worker.
- LPC – licensed professional counselor.
- (Cranial) Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)– a noninvasive medical test that physicians use to diagnose and treat medical conditions. MRI uses a powerful magnetic field, radio frequency pulses and a computer to produce detailed pictures of organs, soft tissues, bone, and virtually all other internal body structures.
- Maternal Fetal Medical Specialist– a doctor who helps take care of women having complicated or high-risk pregnancies.
- MD – medical doctor.
- Medical Home– also known as the patient-centered medical home (PCMH), is a team-based healthcare delivery model led by a healthcare professional that is intended to provide comprehensive and continuous medical care to patients with the goal of obtaining maximized health outcomes.
- Mental Health Counselor– a healthcare professional who offers guidance to people, couples, families, and groups who are dealing with issues that affect their mental health and well-being.
- MFT – marriage and family therapist.
- Microcephaly– a birth defect where a baby’s head is smaller than expected when compared to babies of the same sex and age. Babies with microcephaly often have smaller brains that might not have developed properly.
- (Pediatric) Neurologist– a doctor that treats disorders of the nervous system including conditions of the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and muscles.
- (Pediatric) Ophthalmologist– a medical and surgical doctor specializing in the care of children’s eyes.
- PhD – doctor of philosophy.
- PsyD – doctor of psychology.
- (Pediatric) Radiologist– a doctor that diagnoses illnesses, injuries, and diseases of infants, children, and adolescents using imaging techniques and equipment.
- RN – registered nurse.
- Subcortical calcifications– deposits of calcium in the region of the brain below the cortex.
- Ultrasound (Cranial and prenatal)– uses sound waves to produce pictures of the inside of the body.
- Ventriculomegaly – a condition in which the fluid-filled structures in the brain (lateral ventricles) are too large.