26/05/2025
🦠Monkeypox is a viral zoonotic disease that can cause a disease with symptoms similar to smallpox, though less severe.
Causative Agent:
The monkeypox virus is the causative agent of this disease. There are two distinct genetic clades of the monkeypox virus: the West African clade and the Congo Basin (Central African) clade. The West African clade tends to cause less severe illness compared to the Congo Basin clade.
Symptoms:
Initial Symptoms: Monkeypox begins with fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills, and exhaustion. This phase can last from 0 to 5 days.
Rash: After the initial symptoms, a rash typically develops, often beginning on the face and then spreading to other parts of the body. The rash goes through several stages before forming a scab, which eventually falls off. This process can take 2-4 weeks.
Other Symptoms:Lesions can be extremely painful until they begin to heal. In severe cases, complications can include secondary bacterial infections, pneumonia, and in rare cases, encephalitis.
Detection:
-Laboratory Testing:Monkeypox is diagnosed through laboratory testing, which typically involves polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing on samples from skin lesions. Virus isolation and electron microscopy can also be used but are less common.
-Clinical Diagnosis: Initial diagnosis might be clinical, based on the patient's travel history, symptoms, and physical examination, especially in regions where monkeypox is endemic.
Treatment:
-Supportive Care: There is no specific treatment for monkeypox, so care is mainly supportive, focusing on relieving symptoms. This might include pain management, ensuring hydration, and treating any secondary infections.
-Antivirals: In some cases, antivirals used for smallpox, like tecovirimat or cidofovir, might be considered under compassionate use or in clinical trials, especially for severe cases.
-Vaccination: The smallpox vaccine can provide some protection against monkeypox if given before exposure or shortly after. A newer vaccine, specifically for monkeypox, known as JYNNEOS, is also available in some regions.
Prevention:
-Vaccination: Pre-exposure vaccination for individuals at risk, like lab workers or those living in endemic areas, can be preventive.
-Avoidance of Animal Contact: Avoid contact with animals that could carry the virus, especially in regions where monkeypox is known to circulate.
-Infection Control: Use of personal protective equipment (PPE) by healthcare workers when handling suspected cases, and isolation of infected individuals to prevent spread.
-Public Health Measures: Educating communities on recognizing symptoms, avoiding close contact with infected individuals, and practicing good hand hygiene.
-Travel Advisories: Be aware of travel advisories and take precautions if traveling to areas where monkeypox is endemic.
For the most current information and guidance, it's advisable to follow updates from health authorities like the World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), or Department of Health (DOH). If you suspect you or someone you know might have monkeypox, seek medical advice promptly.