What is Monkeypox?
Monkeypox, also called mpox, is a rare disease caused by the monkeypox virus. This virus is in the same family as the smallpox virus, belonging to the Orthopoxvirus genus. Monkeypox is not as bad as smallpox, but it can still cause serious health issues.
The virus called monkeypox was first found in 1958 during outbreaks in monkeys used for research. This is how the virus was named. But the virus can infect not only monkeys, but also rodents and other animals. In 1970, the first person was found to have monkeypox in the Democratic Republic of Congo while smallpox was still common. Since that time, most cases have been recorded in countries in Central and West Africa, but there have also been some outbreaks in other areas.
The virus can spread from being near an infected person or animal, or from things like bedding that are contaminated. Monkeypox causes symptoms like fever, headache, muscle aches, and a rash that usually starts on the face and then goes to other parts of the body. Even though the illness can be unpleasant and sometimes serious, it is usually not as risky as smallpox. Nevertheless, it is still important to comprehend and stop its transmission.
Understanding Monkeypox: Symptoms, Causes, and Prevention
Symptoms of Monkeypox
Monkeypox can cause a variety of symptoms that may be different in how serious they are. The illness usually begins with symptoms similar to the flu, such as:
Fever
Fever is one of the first signs of monkeypox, showing that the body is trying to fight off the infection. When someone has a fever, their body temperature goes up higher than usual, usually above 100.4°F (38°C). The rise in temperature is the body’s way of naturally fighting off the virus. A fever can make you feel hot, sweaty, or chilled, but it’s a vital defense mechanism. You might feel weak or tired during this period. Resting and drinking plenty of water is very important. Non-prescription drugs such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help lower your fever and make you feel better while your body fights the virus.
Headache
Headaches are a common sign of monkeypox and can be mild or severe. This pain can happen anywhere in the head, from the front to the back, and may feel like a dull ache or a throbbing feeling. The body’s defense against the monkeypox virus can cause headaches. Other symptoms such as being sensitive to light or noise may also occur. For headache management, rest in a calm, dark place, and make sure to drink plenty of fluids. You can also take non-prescription pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen to help ease the pain and make you feel more comfortable.
Muscle Aches
Muscle pains, also called myalgia, are a usual sign of monkeypox. They make the muscles feel uncomfortable, sore, or painful, often in areas like the arms, legs, and back. The body hurts because it is trying to fight the infection, which can make the muscles swell up. Muscle pain can make it hard to move or do daily tasks, causing tiredness and rest is very important for relieving muscle pain. You can also help by gently stretching and using warm compresses on sore areas. Ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help lessen muscle pain from monkeypox, which makes dealing with other symptoms easier.
Back Pain
Monkeypox often causes pain in the lower back, which is a common symptom. This pain can feel like a dull throbbing or sharp, shooting discomfort. It could be due to muscle strain, inflammation, or the body’s response to the virus. Having back pain can make it difficult to do everyday tasks or find a comfortable way to relax. To reduce back pain, you can lie on your side and put a pillow between your knees. This can help to reduce pressure on your back and you can also use hot or cold packs for relief. Mildly stretching or using over-the-counter pain medication like ibuprofen can help to relieve the pain.
Swollen Lymph Nodes
Enlarged lymph nodes, also known as lymphadenopathy, are a common sign of monkeypox. Lymph nodes are small, bean-shaped glands that play a crucial role in the immune system. They assist the body in battling infections. If you catch monkeypox, your lymph nodes in areas like your neck, underarms, and groin could swell up and hurt. The swelling is caused by the lymph nodes working extra hard to get rid of the virus from the body. Enlarged lymph nodes may cause discomfort and can hurt or feel sore when touched. Make sure to relax, drink lots of water, and take ibuprofen to help improve how you feel. Your body normally reduces the swelling while fighting off the infection.
Fatigue
Tiredness or weakness that doesn’t go away with rest is a common symptom of monkeypox. Fatigue is different from regular tiredness because it can be really strong and make it hard to do normal things. The body uses a lot of energy to fight off the monkeypox virus, which is why it happens. You might feel mentally tired and have trouble focusing, in addition to feeling physically tired. In order to deal with tiredness, it’s important to rest a lot, eat healthy food, and drink plenty of water. Doing light activities like taking short walks can sometimes make you feel more energized, but it’s important not to push yourself too hard while you’re recovering.
Following these initial symptoms, a specific rash appears, typically starting on the face and then moving to other areas of the body. This skin rash goes through different stages:
Macules
Macules are one of the first signs of the rash that comes with monkeypox. The flat, red spots start on the face and then spread to other parts of the body, such as the arms, legs, and torso. A macule is smooth and flat, so you can’t feel it when you touch it, unlike a bump or blister. The reason these spots appear is that the virus makes the skin underneath become inflamed, which causes the red color. Macules are frequently the initial phase of the rash and can appear in large numbers, covering significant areas of the body. Over time, flat skin changes may turn into more visible bumps or blisters as the infection gets worse.
Papules
During the growth of monkeypox, the skin gets raised bumps called papules. After the first flat, red spots appear, some of these spots start to rise and become bumps. These lumps are tiny, hard, and can be notice by touching the skin. Papules are typically red or slightly pink and can be sensitive or itchy to the touch. The bumps are a sign that the body is fighting the virus, and the skin is reacting by making these raised spots. As monkeypox gets worse, the bumps may turn into small blisters filled with fluid. To prevent infection and help papules heal properly, it is necessary to avoid scratching them.
Vesicles
Tiny sores appear on the skin as monkeypox gets worse. These sores are called vesicles. Papules turn into blisters that fill with clear fluid. Vesicles are usually circular and can cause discomfort or itching. These sores are an important part of the monkeypox rash, showing that the virus is causing problems on the skin. The liquid in the pockets is usually clear, and the sores can show up in groups or spread to different parts of the body. It’s important to keep the vesicles clean and avoid popping them, because it can cause other infections. As time passes, vesicles will become pustules filled with pus as the infection progresses.
Pustules
Pustules are a more serious form of the monkeypox rash, which comes from vesicles. Pus-filled blisters contain a thick, yellowish fluid made of white blood cells, dead skin cells, and the virus. Pustules are often bigger than vesicles and can be very painful to touch. They are usually round with a white or yellow middle and a red bottom. Pustules can show up on the face, hands, feet, and other body parts, and they indicate that the body is working to fight off the infection. As time passes, the pustules will dry up and become scabs as they start to heal.
Scabs
Scabs are the last part of the monkeypox rash and show that the body is starting to get better. Once the blisters dry up, they create hard, crusty sores called scabs. The scabs are often brown or dark red and may feel thick and rough when touched. As the skin heals, the scabs will come off by themselves and new skin will be left behind. It is crucial not to scratch scabs because it can cause scars or infections. The presence of scabs means the body is fighting the virus, and eventually, the skin will go back to normal after the scabs have healed and gone away.
Causes of Monkeypox
Monkeypox is caused by the monkeypox virus and can spread to humans in different ways:
Wild Animals
Monkeypox can be spread to people from wild animals that have the virus. Animals like squirrels, rats, mice, and monkeys are included in this group. The virus is commonly found in Central and West African countries, where people can get it from coming into contact with infected animals. Humans can get the virus from bites or scratches or by touching the blood, body fluids, or skin of these animals. The virus can also be spread by touching things such as bedding or cages that have been touched by these animals. It’s important to avoid touching wild animals, especially in places where monkeypox is common, to lower the chances of getting the virus.
Human-to-Human Transmission
Monkeypox can also be spread from one person to another. The virus is typically spread from person to person through small droplets that are released when someone who is infected coughs, sneezes, or talks. The virus usually spreads when people are close to each other for a long time. It can also be spread by coming into direct contact with the bodily fluids of someone who is infected, such as saliva or blood, or by touching things like clothes, towels, or bedding that have these fluids on them. To stop the spread of germs, it’s important to stay away from someone who is sick, wash your hands, and clean things that might have germs on them.
Prevention Strategies
To prevent from getting monkeypox, it’s important to follow these practices:
Avoid Contact with Infected Animals
It’s important to stay away from animals that could have monkeypox to avoid getting infected. This involves avoiding wild animals like rats, squirrels, and monkeys that are known to spread the virus. If monkeypox has been reported in your area, be very careful around monkeys. Do not touch or handle them, especially if they look sick or are found dead.
Always wear protective gear like gloves, masks, and long sleeves if you have to work with or be around wild animals to lower the chances of getting close to them. This protective clothing forms a barrier to keep any virus away from you. Also, remember to wash your hands well with soap and water after touching animals, their bedding, or their waste to keep yourself safe.
Practice Good Hygiene
Keeping yourself clean is important in order to prevent monkeypox. Be sure to wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after touching things that might have germs on them, like animals, their poop, or things they have touched. This also applies to when you touch sheets or clothes that could have the virus on them.
When you wash your hands, use warm water and rub the soap for at least 20 seconds. Clean all parts of your hands, including between your fingers and under your nails. If you don’t have soap and water, use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Proper handwashing removes germs and helps prevent the spread of infections. Keeping your hands clean is an easy but helpful way to stay healthy and avoid getting sick.
Use Personal Protective Equipment
When you are looking after someone with monkeypox or handling items that might have the virus, it is important to wear personal protective equipment (PPE). PPE includes things like gloves, masks, gowns, and eye protection. These items can create a barrier between you and the virus, reducing the chance of getting sick.
Whenever you touch the patient or anything they have touched, such as clothes, towels, or bedding, make sure to wear gloves. It’s important to wear masks because they can protect you from breathing in droplets when someone who is sick coughs or sneezes. Wearing gowns and eye protection can help if there is a risk of body fluids splashing or touching you.
Make sure to dispose of used PPE correctly and wash your hands thoroughly after removing it. Wearing PPE correctly keeps you protected and prevents the virus from spreading to others.
Isolate Infected Individuals
If a person has monkeypox, it’s important to keep them away from others to prevent the virus from spreading. The person who is sick should stay in a different room, away from people and pets, if they can. This helps to reduce the risk of the virus spreading to others by limiting contact.
Ensure the room has good air flow and regularly clean and disinfect surfaces that the sick person often touches, such as doorknobs, light switches, and bathroom fixtures. Everyone entering the room must wear protective clothing like gloves and masks, and wash their hands well afterwards.
The clothes, bedding, and laundry of the person who is infected should be handled with care and washed separately. By following these steps, everyone’s safety is ensured and the virus is prevented from spreading further.
Here are Some Resources for More Information
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – Monkeypox Overview ( CDC: Monkeypox )
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) – Monkeypox Research ( NIAID: Monkeypox )
- World Health Organization (WHO) – Monkeypox Fact Sheet ( WHO: Monkeypox )
- Johns Hopkins Medicine – Monkeypox Virus ( Johns Hopkins: Monkeypox )
In Last
Understanding monkeypox is important in effectively managing the disease and stopping it from spreading. People can detect the disease early by recognizing the symptoms such as fever, headache, rash, and muscle aches. Knowing how the virus can spread from contact with an infected person or animal can help you take the right precautions to keep yourself and others safe.
Doing easy things like washing hands a lot, staying away from people who are sick, and wearing protective gear when necessary can have a big impact. If you believe you have come into contact with monkeypox or have symptoms, seek advice from a healthcare professional.
Keep yourself updated about the latest public health rules and listen to the advice of doctors and experts. Staying informed and taking action will help keep you and others safe from monkeypox and other viruses.
