Monkeypox is a rare viral disease related to smallpox. The spread of monkeypox has raised health concerns across the globe and called for immediate steps to curb infections. Staying up to date on the disease is crucial for the healthcare community and patients who could be affected. One report written by Emily Landon, MD, and published by The University of Chicago Medicine provides some valuable information on monkeypox and symptoms to watch out for in patients.
The causes and timeline of the 2022 monkeypox outbreak are still being investigated, and researchers are continuing to learn more about the disease as the situation develops, according to the report by Dr. Landon. Despite its seemingly self-explanatory name, monkeypox is not typically carried by monkeys. In fact, most patients who contract monkeypox have been in contact with a person or a rodent carrying the infection.
Monkeypox is typically spread from skin contact, inhalation of respiratory droplets, or contaminated surfaces with skin lesion fluids or respiratory droplets from an infected host. The incubation period of monkeypox is around 5 to 21 days.
Symptoms of monkeypox include pus-filled blisters on the face and extremities that eventually scab over. These lesions develop and present with an appearance of a rash. Some patients may present with lesions on the genitals or anus, which may need to be differentiated from lesions associated with sexually transmitted infections. Other symptoms of monkeypox include fever, headaches, body aches, and fatigue.
Monkeypox is milder than smallpox, with a 1% fatality rate. There have been no fatalities from monkeypox in the United States during earlier monkeypox outbreaks. Treatment includes administering the smallpox vaccine, antiviral medication, and immune globulin antibodies.
The symptoms of monkeypox, especially the pus-filled lesions, can mimic those of other illnesses. Although making a diagnosis of monkeypox may prove challenging, healthcare providers can improve their diagnostic and treatment strategies by staying up to date on how the current monkeypox outbreak unfolds [1].
Source:
[1] Landon, E. (2022, May 25). What you should know about the new monkeypox outbreak. UChicago Medicine. https://uchicagomedicine.org/forefront/health-and-wellness-articles/new-monkeypox-outbreak?utm_campaign=2022-05-27-Consumer%20Newsletter-Email%20A&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua
