Tropical viral infection with rash and fever
Monkeypox virus is a rare viral infection normally found only in Central and West Africa. The monkeypox virus is now also advancing in Europe. The main symptoms are rash and fever.
What is monkey pox virus
The monkeypox virus is a tropical infection that mainly occurs in remote parts of West and Central Africa. The virus was first found in monkeys in 1958, but humans can also be infected with monkey pox. The virus was first found in humans in 1970. The incidence is equal in men and women and in African epidemics 90 percent of patients were younger than 15 years old.
The disease is zootic, meaning it can be transmitted to humans, but normally occurs in animals such as rats, squirrels, monkeys, mice, and other rodents. The monkeypox virus is rare because human-to-human transmission through contaminated airborne droplets or skin contact is rare. Without symptoms, people cannot pass on the infection.
Causes of the monkeypox virus
Infection with the monkeypox virus is generally through respiratory droplets that can enter through the eyes, nose, mouth and broken skin, but does not spread quickly from person to person. According to health officials, a significant proportion of infections are also transmitted through sexual contact.
Symptoms
The symptoms of monkeypox in humans vary. They include high fever† muscle strain and a rash that often starts in the face but then moves to other parts of the body. The rash on the skin often appears one to three days after the fever and manifests itself in blisters and pimples after about ten days. These eventually turn into scabs that fall off the skin after a while. Swollen lymph nodesshivering, shivering, and fatigue are also symptoms of the monkeypox virus.
The incubation period for monkeypox is an average of 12 days, but can range from 4 to 20 days. After this period, the symptoms will manifest themselves.
Treatment of the monkeypox virus
Most people recover from the virus within a few weeks, but monkeypox can be fatal. Only in exceptional cases do patients become very ill.
There are no specific treatments for monkeypox, although the symptoms of fever, pain or cough can be treated with medication. However, the smallpox vaccine is effective in preventing monkeypox. Bee previous epidemics in West Africa, especially unvaccinated children were infected.
If you suspect an infection with the monkeypox virus, contact a doctor, wash your hands well and avoid close physical contact with other people.
Sources):
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- Infonu: People and Health
