What are the symptoms of monkeypox?

 

Monkeypox

What are the symptoms of monkeypox?

Monkeypox is classified as a "Category IV infectious disease" by the Infectious Diseases Law. It is an acute viral infection in which symptoms such as fever and headache are followed by a rash on the skin and mucous membranes.

Monkeypox viruses are broadly divided into two strains, the Congo Basin strain, and the West African strain, and the Congo strain tends to be more severe than the West African strain.

Monkeypox Patient 

The monkeypox epidemic that has been occurring mainly in Europe since May 2022 is caused by the West African lineage, and although most of the injuries are minor, they can become severe in people with low immunity, such as infants. In addition, in this outbreak, there are cases where rashes are limited to a part of the skin or mucous membranes rather than the whole body, and it may be difficult to distinguish them from other infectious diseases that cause rashes.

Cause and infection route

Monkeypox is an infection caused by the monkeypox virus of the genus Orthopoxvirus. The route of infection is droplet infection and contact infection. Specifically, exposure to droplets from coughs and sneezes (droplet infection), touching skin or mucous membranes with rashes, sharing toilets, baths, towels, sheets, etc., and rashes, bodily fluids, and stools can directly spread the virus. Infected mucous membranes through touching or hands (contact infection / oral infection).

It is contagious while symptoms are present (from fever until all crusts have sloughed off).

Monkeypox virus

The following cases require particular attention to the infection till the end of the year 2022

1.        He had traveled to a monkeypox-endemic country or a country with reported monkeypox cases within 21 days of onset.

2.        Within 21 days of onset, contact (skin or mucous membrane contact, conversation within 1 meter) with a person who has been in a monkeypox-endemic country or a country where monkeypox cases have been reported.

3.        He had contact with a monkeypox patient or a person who fulfilled 1 and 2 within 21 days of onset.

4.        Sexual contact with multiple or unspecified persons within 21 days of onset.

 

Symptoms and Treatment

Symptoms

The incubation period is 5 to 21 days (average 7 to 14 days), and the rash appears after 1 to 5 days of fever, headache, swollen lymph nodes, muscle pain, and malaise. The rash first appears on the face and then spreads to the central parts of the body, such as the back and stomach, and to the limbs. The rash is initially red and flat but gradually develops into blisters, pustules, and finally crusts. Once all the crusts are peeled off, the rash heals. It takes about 2-4 weeks from onset to cure. The rash can appear not only on the skin, but also on mucous membranes throughout the body, such as the eyes, mouth, and genitals.

 

Monkeypox virus

Treatment

Treatment is primarily symptomatic but may be administered for research purposes to treat smallpox, which mimics the monkeypox virus.

Monkeypox is a category 4 infectious disease under the Infectious Diseases Law and does not require hospitalization. Is limited to those who can continue for 14 days or more.

prevention

1 Infection control for monkeypox patients or suspected monkeypox

•          Wear a mask, follow cough etiquette, and perform hand hygiene.

•          Cover the rash area with gauze or clothing during the rash. Wear a hat on the head, a mask on the face, gloves, and socks to prevent direct skin exposure.

•          Avoid contact with immunocompromised persons, pregnant women, and children under the age of 12.

•          Avoid skin-to-skin, face-to-face, and sexual contact while you are sick. In addition, monkeypox has been pointed out to be transmitted through sexual contact, so even after the symptoms have disappeared, try to avoid the risk of sexually transmitted infection, such as wearing a condom.

•          Avoid sharing towels, bedding, and utensils.

•          The linens and clothing used by the patient should be worn with disposable gloves to avoid direct contact, placed in a resealable bag, transported to the washing machine, and laundered as normal.

•          Used dishes should be washed normally using household detergents and wearing disposable gloves.

•          Areas used by the patient (beds, floors, toilets, baths, etc.) should be cleaned using disposable gloves and then wiped with an antiseptic. For disinfectants, use 0.1% sodium hypochlorite for wet areas, 76.9-81.4% ethanol for disinfection, or 0.1% sodium hypochlorite for areas other than wet areas.

•          Tissues and disposable gloves used by the patient are doubled and discarded.

•          Certify that the patient's room is well-ventilated.

2. Vaccine

Smallpox vaccine, which is a smallpox vaccine, is also effective in preventing monkeypox. It is said that the smallpox vaccine is effective in preventing infection when administered within 4 days after exposure to the monkeypox virus, and effective in preventing severe disease when administered within 4-14 days after exposure.