Keep an Eye Out for Monkey Pox Outbreaks. And the distinction from chickenpox

In the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, Hermina's friends are noticing that monkeypox is receiving discussion and attention. Do you recognize Hermina's pal? In a facility that employed monkeys for research, the first case of monkeypox was identified in 1958. A colony of monkeys housed for research was revealed to have smallpox.

 

Due to this monkeypox sickness, unusual phenomena are currently occurring in numerous nations. As of August 26, 2022, there were a total of 99 nations with 47,650 confirmed cases of monkeypox, resulting in 13 fatalities.

 

Transmission of the monkeypox

• Contact with a person, animal, or piece of equipment that has been contaminated with the virus.

• Contaminated animal bite or graze

• Direct contact with an infected person's bodily fluids or wounds, or with objects like garments that have come into contact with them.

• Another way that humans can contract monkeypox is by direct contact with an infected person's wounds, sores, or bodily fluids. 

• With patients through respiratory droplets

 

Is it accurate to say that a sexually transmitted infection is monkeypox?

 

The World Health Organization (WHO) states that close physical contact, including kissing, touching, vaginal, anal, oral, and penetration sex with an infected individual, can spread monkeypox. Chickenpox, herpes, and syphilis are just a few infectious diseases that monkeypox might resemble. Monkeypox originated on the African continent. The African continent is home to 16 endemic nations. However, this instance is actually discovered in Europe in 2022. 528 gay or bisexual individuals were diagnosed with monkeypox in Europe between April and June.

 

Monkey pox symptoms and how they differ from chicken pox

The acute phase and the rash phase are the two phases of monkeypox symptoms.

 

phase acute

• Days 1–5 of a fever, but not a high one

• Lymphadenopathy, or swollen lymph, is indicated by a lump in the neck, armpit, or groin.

• The rash first appears on the face before moving on to other body areas.

 

Rash Period

• Rash does not appear all at once. 

• In contrast to chickenpox, the monkeypox rash begins as a reddish rash phase, progresses to reddish spots packed with fluid, then transforms into an abscess or pus-filled area, and finally becomes scabs.

 

There are no swollen lymph nodes in chickenpox. The chickenpox rash stage also manifests simultaneously. In addition, after the fluid-filled phase, the rash associated with chickenpox typically resolves.

 

How harmful is monkeypox?

Even if recovery takes time, this disease might eventually go away on its own (self-limiting disease). However, it is still risky for those who already have comorbid conditions like diabetes, HIV, or autoimmune diseases that compromise their immune systems.

 

Advice for preventing the spread of monkeypox

We can now draw lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic's experiences. The most crucial thing is to keep your body healthy and your immune system strong. Maintain health precautions and visit a doctor right away if you suffer signs of monkeypox.

 

Review By: dr. Hadianti, Sp.PD-KPTI Click (here) to make an appointment