Monkeypox

Palms of the Hand & Soles of the Feet are Maximum-affected

Monkeypox was first discovered in monkeys that were kept under observation for research purpose and hence the name for the disease. In humans it was first discovered in the year 1970 in the Congo region. This disease remains specific to the central and western African countries and until now infections have only been twice reported in non-African countries-America in 2003 and UK in 2018. Monkeypox is a zoonotic disease with symptoms similar to the ones found in smallpox (a virus disease that’s been eliminated since 1980) patients. If the word ‘zoonotic’ doesn’t ring a bell in your mind, please visit the website www.firsteatright.com for more information.

The virus is transmitted through direct contact with the blood, bodily fluids or cutaneous/mucous lesions of infected animals. Eating undercooked meals of infected animals (such as rats, monkeys, squirrels) too is a risk factor. The virus is transmitted between humans via contact with mucous, saliva through cough/sneeze or other respiratory tract secretions, skin lesions of an infected person or any objects that’s been contaminated with fluids or lesions of the infected person.

Signs & Symptoms

It takes usually 6 to 16 days for the signs of the illness to occur since the infection, but it can take between 5 and 21 days too. Symptoms of monkeypox are similar to that of smallpox but milder. The primary difference here is that monkeypox causes the lymph nodes to swell and smallpox doesn’t. Common symptoms include chills, fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes and exhaustion. Within 3 days of fever rashes start appearing on the face and then spread to other parts of the body (most common in palms of hands and soles of feet). The rash is usually very itchy and goes through several stages (macules, papules, vesicle, pustules and scabs) before falling off. It takes between 2 and 3 weeks for the crusts to disappear entirely.

Diagnosis

The symptoms might make the physicians doubt illnesses such as smallpox, measles, chickenpox, bacterial skin infections, scabies, syphilis and medication-related illnesses. But presence of lymph nodes is a typical symptom of monkeypox virus and helps to differentiate it from smallpox. Lab tests too help in identifying the virus clearly after which necessary actions could be taken.

Treatment

There are no specific treatments available for the virus, but the outbreak can be controlled by preventing the infection from happening in the first place. Smallpox vaccinations are said to be 85% effective against monkeypox, but the vaccines are not available mostly due to eradication of the smallpox virus disease.

The vulnerability of getting infected with the virus is very low and almost only 1 of 50 patients who are in contact with monkeypox-infected patients are attacked by the disease. Still, as there is no treatment available for the virus and close contact is a significant risk factor the only way to prevent it is by spreading awareness about the virus and helping people understand the different ways in which they can minimize their exposure to the virus. This can be done by:

• Avoiding contact with rodents, their blood and meat and ensuring to cook them fully before consumption. It is recommended to wear gloves while slaughtering animals too.
•  Avoiding physical contact with the infected person, wearing gloves and other protective equipment while treating patients with monkeypox. It’s safer to isolate patients whether at home or at the hospital.