Monkeypox - infection, symptoms and treatment
Monkeypox has recently become a regular topic in the health news. This is also worrying because so far little is known about the newly emerged disease and its dangerousness is therefore difficult to assess. However, there are some facts that are now useful to know.
Origin and spread
The virus (MPXV) that causes the disease, which belongs to the smallpox family, has existed in West and Central Africa for a long time. From there, it spread for the first time in 2022 to Europe, Asia and Africa, so that some countries were forced to declare a state of health emergency.
Even the name "monkeypox", also "monkeypox virus", is misleading, because the disease is actually transmitted to humans by rodents. Monkeys, like humans, are false hosts for the pathogen. Transmission from rodent to human occurs through close contact with body secretions or infected meat. Infection between humans can occur through various body fluids, for example semen, wound secretions or saliva. However, intensive physical contact is necessary for this, so that transmissions have so far mainly been detected in sexual contacts. In principle, however, any close physical contact as well as contact with contaminated objects is considered a possible source of infection. Overall, monkeypox is considered to be far less contagious than, for example, corona, cold or flu viruses.
Symptoms and deaths
After a symptom-free incubation period of 5-21 days, during which those affected are often not yet contagious themselves, skin symptoms are most noticeable. These are sometimes fluid-filled, occasionally very painful blisters, rashes and sores. They are often found at the beginning or overall, especially in the anal and genital region, if the infection occurred through sexual contact. However, skin symptoms can also affect the entire body, including the soles of the hands and feet and the face. In some, but not all, cases, general symptoms such as fever and exhaustion occurred, along with occasional pain in joints, muscles, back and lymph nodes.
The lethality, i.e. the number of deaths among infected persons, varied significantly in studies available to date and ranged between 1.7 and 8.7 percent of those infected. However, it must be borne in mind that larger studies have so far only been carried out in poorer countries. This often means people with pre-existing conditions and poorer medical care - the lethality under optimal conditions cannot yet be determined with certainty. Children and adolescents are particularly at risk.
Prevention and treatment
Especially in cases of frequent sexual contact or different sexual partners, contraception with a condom helps to significantly reduce the probability of infection. It also makes sense to exercise caution during other intensive physical contact. Vaccination is available and is recommended for people with frequently changing sexual partners as well as for people who work with infectious material, for example in medical professions. In addition, vaccination can be given post-exposure, i.e. directly after contact with an infected person, as a preventive measure. Vaccination against common smallpox, which was compulsory for almost everyone over the age of 50 in childhood, probably provides some protection against infection, but this varies.
Because it is a virus, treatment with antibiotics has no effect. Instead, sufferers are advised to behave in a similar way to a corona or flu infection, i.e. to isolate themselves and take it easy physically. Medicines for pain and fever alleviate the symptoms. For people with a weakened immune system or a severe course, the drug Tecovirimat can be used.
Conclusion
According to the current state of information, it is unlikely that monkeypox will become a pandemic comparable to Spanish flu or Corona, as infection is much more difficult. Nevertheless, the disease should not be taken lightly, because the lethality is probably relatively high compared to the epidemics mentioned. In addition, it is unlikely that it will disappear completely. This makes it all the more important to take precautionary measures in dealing with the disease, such as consistent quarantine of those affected. In general, sexual contact should always be protected in order to at least reduce the risk of infection.
Origin and spread
The virus (MPXV) that causes the disease, which belongs to the smallpox family, has existed in West and Central Africa for a long time. From there, it spread for the first time in 2022 to Europe, Asia and Africa, so that some countries were forced to declare a state of health emergency.
Even the name "monkeypox", also "monkeypox virus", is misleading, because the disease is actually transmitted to humans by rodents. Monkeys, like humans, are false hosts for the pathogen. Transmission from rodent to human occurs through close contact with body secretions or infected meat. Infection between humans can occur through various body fluids, for example semen, wound secretions or saliva. However, intensive physical contact is necessary for this, so that transmissions have so far mainly been detected in sexual contacts. In principle, however, any close physical contact as well as contact with contaminated objects is considered a possible source of infection. Overall, monkeypox is considered to be far less contagious than, for example, corona, cold or flu viruses.
Symptoms and deaths
After a symptom-free incubation period of 5-21 days, during which those affected are often not yet contagious themselves, skin symptoms are most noticeable. These are sometimes fluid-filled, occasionally very painful blisters, rashes and sores. They are often found at the beginning or overall, especially in the anal and genital region, if the infection occurred through sexual contact. However, skin symptoms can also affect the entire body, including the soles of the hands and feet and the face. In some, but not all, cases, general symptoms such as fever and exhaustion occurred, along with occasional pain in joints, muscles, back and lymph nodes.
The lethality, i.e. the number of deaths among infected persons, varied significantly in studies available to date and ranged between 1.7 and 8.7 percent of those infected. However, it must be borne in mind that larger studies have so far only been carried out in poorer countries. This often means people with pre-existing conditions and poorer medical care - the lethality under optimal conditions cannot yet be determined with certainty. Children and adolescents are particularly at risk.
Prevention and treatment
Especially in cases of frequent sexual contact or different sexual partners, contraception with a condom helps to significantly reduce the probability of infection. It also makes sense to exercise caution during other intensive physical contact. Vaccination is available and is recommended for people with frequently changing sexual partners as well as for people who work with infectious material, for example in medical professions. In addition, vaccination can be given post-exposure, i.e. directly after contact with an infected person, as a preventive measure. Vaccination against common smallpox, which was compulsory for almost everyone over the age of 50 in childhood, probably provides some protection against infection, but this varies.
Because it is a virus, treatment with antibiotics has no effect. Instead, sufferers are advised to behave in a similar way to a corona or flu infection, i.e. to isolate themselves and take it easy physically. Medicines for pain and fever alleviate the symptoms. For people with a weakened immune system or a severe course, the drug Tecovirimat can be used.
Conclusion
According to the current state of information, it is unlikely that monkeypox will become a pandemic comparable to Spanish flu or Corona, as infection is much more difficult. Nevertheless, the disease should not be taken lightly, because the lethality is probably relatively high compared to the epidemics mentioned. In addition, it is unlikely that it will disappear completely. This makes it all the more important to take precautionary measures in dealing with the disease, such as consistent quarantine of those affected. In general, sexual contact should always be protected in order to at least reduce the risk of infection.