What is monkey pox?
Monkeypox is an infectious viral disease that is transmitted to humans from animals with symptoms being similar to smallpox. Monkeypox primarily occurs in Africa.
Causes of monkeypox :
Monkeypox in both humans and animals is caused by infection with the monkeypox virus, an enveloped double stranded DNA virus in the genus Orthopoxvirus of Poxviridae family. The virus was first found in Monkeys in western and central parts of Africa.
Transmission
Animal to human transmission can occur by an animal bite or scratch, bush meat preperation, or by contact with an infected animals bodily fluid or mucosal lesions.
Once a human is affected, transmission to other humans is easily done by close contact. Transmission can occur by droplet respiratory particles or by direct bodily fluid contacts or from mother to fetus.
Recent outbreaks in India
In July 2022, India reported its first case of monkeypox in Kerela in a man with a travel history. As of August 2022, the country reported nine confirmed cases of monkeypox.
Worldwide, nearly 98% of the total infected persons were male.
Signs and Symptoms
It is possible for a person to be infected with monkeypox without showing any symptoms.
The incubation period of monkeypox is 5-21 days.
Early symptoms:
Fever, headache, muscle pain, fatigue, swelling of lymph nodes, similar to chickenpox, smallpox, measles.
Late symptoms:
The skin eruption, rash more concentrated on the face, macules and papules, pustules, vesicles, etc.
Complications
Secondary infections like Pneumonia, sepsis, encephalitis and loss of vision with severe eye infection may occur.
There are less chances of this disease in people who have been vaccinated for smallpox during childhood.
Diagnosis:
The monkeypox can be diagnosed by testing for the virus by lab techniques such as PCR ( Polymerase Chain Reaction). Also, it can be distinguished from the smallpox, measles and chickenpox by presence of lymphadenopathy.
Treatment
Tecovirimat is the medicine approved for monkeypox. Alongside, supportive care such as anti pyretic ( to treat fever) , fluid balance should also be given.
Prevention:
The person who work at health care centres and hospitals are at greater risk of getting this infection. So, they should follow proper laboratory techniques. Also, these people should be vaccinated.
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