Understanding monkeypox symptoms: Causes and treatment
In August 2024, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declared monkeypox (now called Mpox) a global public health emergency due to an outbreak in several African countries. At the moment, there is no active outbreak in the United States, which was a concern in 2023.
But it’s easy to feel alarmed and begin drawing comparisons between Mpox and the reality-upending COVID-19 pandemic. The truth is that the two viruses are not the same, and their ramifications will likely not be the same, either.
Here’s what you need to know about Mpox, including its causes, symptoms, treatment, and prevention.
Monkeypox causes
Monkeypox is caused by a virus in the Orthopoxvirus family, which also includes the smallpox virus. The first recorded case of Mpox in a human was in 1970.
It is a rare illness that is endemic to certain regions in Africa and rarely seen in other parts of the world. The 2022 outbreak in the United States was caused by someone who traveled to Nigeria and contracted the virus.
The Mpox virus is primarily transmitted through characteristic pox-like skin lesions, meaning that the most common way to become infected is through prolonged skin-to-skin contact with someone who has the virus.
Monkeypox symptoms
When people contract Mpox, there is an incubation period of 3-17 days when they have no symptoms. After that, they tend to experience progressive stages of illness.
In the first stage, they may have constitutional flu-like symptoms such as fever, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes, and body aches. After a few days, the classic Mpox lesions appear, usually in places around the genitals or buttocks (but they can also appear on the hands, feet, face or mouth). These lesions follow a predictable pattern, starting as flat, firm red spots that later become raised bumps and turn into fluid-filled blisters.
After several days, these blisters scab over and fall off. In the 2022 outbreak, the lesions were most common in the genital or anorectal areas. During this outbreak, the monkeypox symptoms were often less prominent, with some people only experiencing a mild rash. The illness typically lasts 2-4 weeks.
Monkeypox prevention
Mpox can spread from person to person before you develop symptoms, so it is considered contagious. However, the following monkeypox prevention measures can help you avoid contracting the virus:
- Reduce your skin-to-skin contact with others, taking special care not to touch anyone with pox-like lesions.
- Avoid touching objects that may have come into contact with the virus, such as towels or bedding.
- Follow general public health recommendations, such as routine handwashing, avoiding others who are sick, and staying home when you’re sick.
If you’re at especially high risk of contracting the virus, i.e., if you’re a scientist working with orthopoxvirus samples or are a homosexual man who is at greater risk, you may be eligible for a preventive vaccine against Mpox called JYNNEOS, given in two doses four weeks apart. The vaccine is recommended for the prevention of Mpox; it is not a treatment for the virus.
Monkeypox treatment
At this time, there is no FDA-approved treatment for Mpox, although there is one currently in development. Mpox is typically a self-limited disease, which means that your immune system can usually clear the virus on its own without assistance. However, if you are immunosuppressed or have a severe case of Mpox, speak to your healthcare provider about possible treatment options.
What to do if you suspect monkeypox
If you’re experiencing the symptoms of Mpox, consider a Virtual Visit to screen for your risk, as it is highly contagious. Our caring providers can help you manage your symptoms and feel better every day of the week.
Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/clinicians/clinical-recognition.html
https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/prevention/protect-yourself.html
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22371-monkeypox
https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/about.html
https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/symptoms.html
https://www.cdc.gov/poxvirus/monkeypox/clinicians/treatment.html
