Monkeypox Symptoms: Signs & Solutions

Monkeypox occurs from a viral infection and can be transmitted from animals to humans or vice versa. The most common Monkeypox symptoms include outbreak or lesions, rashes and fever with swollen lymph nodes. Read on the blog further to find out key symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment and vaccinations for Monkeypox.

Causes and Origin of Monkeypox

The main cause of the Monkeypox outbreak is the Mpox virus. It belongs to the genus Orthopox virus, the one responsible for causing smallpox. Scientists discovered this disease back in 1958 when two outbreaks were observed in monkeys while experimenting with them.  

Understanding Monkeypox Symptoms

Most of the Monkeypox symptoms are similar to smallpox. However, Mpox symptoms are comparatively milder than that of smallpox. You can observe Mpox symptoms from after 6 to 13 days of you contracting the virus. This duration, however, may extend from about 5 to 21 days.

Some early signs indicating Monkeypox are:

• Headache
• Fever
• Pain in the joints
• Muscle and back ache
• Chills
• Fatigue
• Most importantly, swollen lymph nodes
• Other symptoms similar to that of a flu

After the fever outbreak, you can observe Mpox rashes from 1 to 3 days later. These rashes mainly affect your:

• Hands, in the palms
• Feet, in your soles
• Genitals
• Face
• Eyes including your cornea and conjunctiva
• Mouth

The occurrence of rashes takes place in five distinct stages, namely:

• Macules, flat discoloured or red lesions
• Papules, slightly elevated lesions
• Vesicles, bumps or lesions containing clear fluid
• Pustules, bumps containing a yellowish fluid called pus
• Scabs

After these lesions dry up and scab is over, these fall off from your skin surface. Your Mpox symptoms will usually last for about 2 to 4 weeks, and they will gradually disappear on their own.   

Complications Resulting from Monkeypox

Monkeypox may bring about serious health complications such as:

• Sepsis
• Bronchopneumonia
• Infection in your cornea, your eye’s outer layer, leading to your loss of vision  
• Encephalitis, a condition of inflammation in your brain tissue
• Other secondary infections

Remember that different lesions merge on your skin to form a bigger lesion. This can ultimately result in the loss of a large area of your skin.  

Where does Mpox occur mostly?

During the ancient days, Mpox virus mainly occurs in rural and tropical parts of Africa- both Western and Central. Besides Africa, several fresh cases have been reported regarding Mpox UK, Australia or the United States. Reports of August 2022 show that a total 39,434 Mpox cases has been reported worldwide.    

Transmission of Monkeypox

Direct physical contact with the Mpox infected human or animal can be responsible for the transmission of this disease. For instance, Mpox transmission may occur through substances like:

• Bodily fluids
• Lesions on your skin or mucous membrane
• Blood
• Respiratory droplets

Also, direct contact with surfaces, objects or fabrics containing the Mpox virus may also lead to the spreading of the disease. It is again found that a pregnant woman encountering an Mpox infection tends to pass on the virus to its growing foetus through the placenta.

Remember that intimate contact with an individual infected with the Mpox virus may also cause transmission of the disease through:

• Massaging, hugging or kissing
• Sharing the objects of an individual suffering Mpox infection; for example the same bedding, clothing, towel or sex toys
• Vaginal, anal or oral intercourse
• Prolonged contact face to face
• Coming in touch with the anus or genitals of an infected individual

In case of animal to human contact, Mpox transmission occurs through the following ways:

• Scratches or bites of an animal infected with the Monkeypox virus
• Consuming the meat of an animal having an Mpox infection

Sex workers and healthcare staff are also vulnerable to Mpox infection due to increased risks of transmission of this virus.

Are Mpox symptoms fatal?

Mpox can rarely be fatal. In fact, 99% of the Mpox cases reported show the survival of the victim. However, certain categories of people are generally more susceptible to severe complications of Mpox are:

• Children below 8 years of age
• Individuals having a past record of eczema
• Individuals having a weak immunity power
• Pregnant or breastfeeding women

Moreover, individuals suffering from bacterial infections experience the worst health outcomes as a result of Mpox outbreak.

Diagnosing Monkeypox

If you have come in close contact with any Mpox infected individual or animal, remember to consult your healthcare specialist if you need to undertake a diagnostic test.  

Different methods for diagnosing your Mpox infection include:

• Lab tests: A PCR or polymerase chain reaction test examines the presence of the Mpox virus in fluids present in dry scabs or lesions.
• Biopsy: This procedure includes the removal of a part of your skin tissue and checking the presence of the virus within it.

Monkeypox Treatment Options

Monkeypox is a self limiting disease, and it can heal by itself. However, some common options for Monkeypox treatment include use of antiviral drugs and some over the counter medications like topical creams, pain relievers or oral antihistamines.

Role of Monkeypox Vaccinations

Different healthcare experts have suggested if you are already vaccinated with the smallpox vaccine, your chances of developing Monkeypox symptoms are milder. Monkeypox vaccinations help in reducing the severity of your symptoms, once you have already contracted the Mpox infection. On the other hand, you can also take these vaccines early as a preventive plan under the supervision of a healthcare professional, even before you have started developing the symptoms.    

Tips for Protection against Mpox Rash

• Avoid pet animals and infected humans
• Avoid materials used by an infected individual
• Cook animal meat thoroughly
• Practise safe sex
• Wash hands with alcohol based sanitisers
• Use protective equipment like masks or gloves when you are around infected people
• Isolate yourself
• Cover your lesions with a bandage

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Key Takeaways

Although Monkeypox symptoms are not life threatening, they may lead to serious secondary complications. It is, therefore, best to get prompt treatment and vaccines once you have contracted the virus. Visit MD.co.uk to get the best medical advice on Mpox management.