The ongoing spread of Monkeypox has led to high levels of concern in many countries. A full analysis of the spread and symptoms of monkeypox is essential for thoroughly dealing with this new epidemic.
As fear of the COVID-19 pandemic begins to subside, many countries are beginning to deal with a fear of the epidemic surrounding monkeypox cases in various regions. Although previously endemic to Africa, monkeypox cases have rapidly increased in many countries around Europe and throughout the Western hemisphere. This article, published in the journal Cureus, provides a thorough analysis of transmission, pathogenesis, and manifestation of monkeypox, as well as a discussion of potential novel treatments.
The R0 value of monkeypox was determined to be between 1.10 and 2.40. At the time of writing, in July 2022, there were 5783 cases of monkeypox in 52 different countries, with a higher prevalence among males. Fatality rates are reported to be approximately 10%. Transmission can occur in various ways, but all involve direct physical contact with bodily fluids, lesions, or respiratory droplets. The article also provides a thorough taxonomy of monkeypox, including its location within the Poxviridae lineage.
The authors include a section on clinical management and treatment, including a discussion of various medications that can be used to provide relief for each major symptom of monkeypox. These include oral and intraveneous antibiotics and antivirals, antiemetic and antidiarrheal medications, and the application of moist occlusives to prevent skin scarring. Aside from this type of symptom management, there is no clear or direct treatment for monkeypox.
Although human-to-human transmission of monkeypox remains less common than COVID-19, the authors note that similar techniques such as contact tracing and social distancing can be used to minimize its spread. They urge investigation into potential novel treatments, as well as an understanding of the true extent of the symptoms of monkeypox in both the short and long term.
Reference:
Kaler, J., Hussain, A., Flores, G., Kheiri, S., & Desrosiers, D. (2022). Monkeypox: A Comprehensive Review of Transmission, Pathogenesis, and Manifestation. Cureus, 14(7), e26531. doi: 10.7759/cureus.26531
Kaler, J., Hussain, A., Flores, G., Kheiri, S., & Desrosiers, D. (2022). Monkeypox: a comprehensive review of transmission, pathogenesis, and manifestation. Cureus, 14(7).
