Monkeypox or Monkeypox is a viral zoonosis, transmitted by a virus from animals to humans, with symptoms very similar to those observed in patients with smallpox.
Dr. Verónica Rotela, Specialist of the Dermatology Chair and Service of the FCM-UNA, explained that this virus is transmitted from person to person by close contact with injuries, body fluids, respiratory droplets and contaminated materials. This is attributed to primates and rodents, and can also be spread through the intake of undercooked meat as a risk factor.
The dermatologist also highlighted that, among the symptoms such as headache, fever, chills, muscle aches, there are also skin rashes that usually start on the face and then spread to other parts of the body, between the palms of the hands and plants of the feet.
“After this eruption, a sequential evolution of skin lesions can occur, the following are observed: macules, papules, vesicles, pustules, and scabs, and this polymorphism of lesions has the particularity that they are generally similar to each other, they are found similar lesions in the same stage, in different areas of the body; unlike chickenpox, where we see different lesions at the same time of the disease, ”he said.
Most of the lesions are found on the face, palms and soles, although any part of the body can be affected. During this outbreak, some people develop a localized skin rash (oral, perigenital, and/or perianal distribution associated with painful regional lymphadenopathy), sometimes with secondary infection.
This disease can last from 2 to 4 weeks and has a rest treatment in order to avoid touching the mucous membranes, and prevent secondary infections with continuous monitoring, especially of the airway. On the other hand, it has a specific antiviral treatment that is tecovirimat, which is not widely available and considered under special situations and protocols.
Regarding the complications that could occur, he argued that, according to what has been observed up to now in a preliminary way, in general, the vast majority have a mild disease and it is more prevalent in adults. He stated that, although there are no reports of cases of infected children; this does not rule out that the virus can also manifest itself in pediatric patients.
Regarding the lethality of the virus, he maintained that the majority of people who suffer from it reach a complete recovery. According to data from previous years, the mortality figure depends on the strain, and can reach a rate of 1% and 10%.
