Monkeypox is a viral disease in the same family as smallpox, although its symptoms are usually not as severe. Scientists have known about it since 1958, when it was found in laboratory monkeys used for research. Monkeypox is most common in central and western Africa. But in May 2022, health officials began reporting an outbreak of the virus in several regions outside of Africa.
How serious is monkeypox ?
The illness usually runs its course in 2 to 4 weeks. It can be quite serious, especially in children who have been exposed to a large amount of the virus or in people with other health conditions or weak immune systems.
How can monkeypox spread:
- Monkeypox can be spread to anyone through close personal contact, often skin-to-skin, including:
- Direct contact with monkeypox rash, scabs, or body fluids from a person with monkeypox.
- T ouching objects, fabrics (clothes, bedding, or towels), and surfaces that have been used by someone with monkeypox.
- Contact with respiratory secretions.
- This direct contact can occur during intimate contact, including:
- Oral, anal, and vaginal sex or touching the genitals (penis, testicles, labia, and vagina) or the anus (anus) of a person with monkeypox.
- Hugs, massages and kisses.
- Prolonged face-to-face contact.
- Touching fabrics and objects during sexual intercourse that were used by a person with monkeypox and have not been disinfected, such as bedding, towels, fetish items, and sex toys.
- A pregnant woman can transmit the virus to her fetus through the placenta.
Symptoms of MonkeyPox:
Symptoms of monkeypox can include:
- Fever
- Headache
- Muscle aches and back pain
- swollen lymph nodes
- Shaking chills
- Exhaustion
- Respiratory symptoms (for example, sore throat, nasal congestion, or cough)
- A rash that can be located on or near the genitals (penis, testicles, lips, and vagina) or the anus (anus), but can also be on other areas such as the hands, feet, chest, face, or mouth .
- The rash will go through several stages, including scabbing, before it heals.
- The rash may look like pimples or blisters and may be painful or itchy.
You may experience all or just some of the symptoms.
- Sometimes people have a rash first, followed by other symptoms. Others only experience a rash.
- Most people with monkeypox will have a rash.
- Some people have developed a rash before (or without) other symptoms.
Diagnosis:
Your doctor will look at your lesions and ask in detail about your symptoms, such as when you likely came into contact with the virus. They will try to rule out similar conditions such as:
- Measles
- Chickenpox
- Syphilis
- Allergies
- Scabies
- Bacterial skin infections
- A lab test can determine if you have monkeypox.
Treatment:
There are no specific treatments for monkeypox virus infections. However, monkeypox and smallpox viruses are genetically similar, which means that antiviral drugs and vaccines developed to protect against smallpox can be used to prevent and treat monkeypox virus infections.
