Monkeypox FAQs: For the second time in recent years, World Health Organization (WHO) has taken the extraordinary step of declaring Monkeypox a global emergency. Since May 2022, the outbreak has spread over many countries including India. Recently, a 34-year-old man from Delhi with no history of foreign travel tested positive for monkeypox, taking India's tally of cases to four. Globally, over 16,000 cases of monkeypox have been reported from 75 countries and there have been five deaths so far. Monkeypox spreads by close contact, skin-to-skin contact, and droplet infection. So, one has to be careful about all these factors.
Here are 10 quick facts about this infectious disease one must be aware of:
1. What is Monkeypox?
Answer: Monkeypox is a zoonotic disease caused by the orthopox virus and was first described in monkeys, though the reservoirs are rodents. The disease causes fever, headache, body ache, painful rash over the body, and swollen glands.
2. Can it be serious and fatal?
Answer: No, in most people it is a mild illness. Rarely, it can become serious in small children, pregnant women, or immune-compromised individuals.
3. What are the symptoms of Monkeypox?
Answer: The symptoms start reflecting within 4 to 14 days after infection. Some of the common symptoms of the disease include painful rashes, fever, muscle ache, intense headaches, swollen lymph nodes. After the scab appears, skin lesions become intensely itchy and the symptoms may last for 21 days.
4. How does it spread?
Answer: The infection can spread by touching an infected persons rash, scabs, body fluid, sharing of clothing and bedding and also through tiny droplets from kissing and cuddling. Pregnant women can pass the disease to the baby in the uterus.
5. Treatment for Monkeypox
Answer: When a person is infected with monkeypox, there is no treatment required. Most people and children can be treated at home through self-isolation in a ventilated room, taking paracetamol for fever and pain, by maintaining good hydration, soothing application on skin lesions. If eyes are involved. eye care must be done under the supervision of an eye specialist. Monkeypox infection is a benign disease and generally goes away with oral treatment. However, since cases are spreading around the world, it is important to maintain high hygiene standards and refrain from crowded places to help control further spread of the virus.
6. Prevention from Monkeypox
Answer: Monkeypox can be prevented in multiple ways. These are as follows:
- Avoid close skin-to-skin contact with an infected person
- Do not touch the rash or scab of an infected person
- Wear gloves and a mask when taking care of an infected person
- Do not share utensils, clothing, bedding, etc
- Soiled clothes can be washed in a washing machine with detergent
- Wash hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based rub
7. What are the serious complications of Monkeypox?
Answer: Some of the serious complications of monkeypox are corneal involvement, Encephalitis, Sepsis, Pneumonia, and secondary infection in skin lesions.
8. Are tests available for diagnosis?
Answer: Tests are available with government agencies and at the National Institute of Virology.
9. Are medicines available for treatment?
Answer: Medicines are routinely not given. However, medicines have been developed to treat smallpox and if required these can be used in serious cases of monkeypox.
10. Is there a vaccine for prevention?
Answer: People who had smallpox vaccine (born before 1978) would have some degree of protection. Vaccines do exist, but their use is restricted.
(This article is attributed to Dr Arvind Kumar, Director HOD, Paediatrics, Fortis Hospital Shalimar Bagh)
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author. They do not reflect the views of India TV)
