Definition 

Monkeypox is a type of unique disease that occurs because of a virus. It includes some symptoms like fever, widespread rash and swollen lymph nodes. Many lesions and troubles on the face are caused by the rashes of monkeypox. 

Central and western Africa are the areas with most cases of monkeypox. The United States has the least number of monkeypox disease cases. 

Monkeypox is a type of zoonotic disease. This indicates that it can be transmitted from animals to humans, and inversely. This disease can also be transmitted from one human to another human. 

For learning about the causes, symptoms and diagnosis of monkeypox continue reading this article. This article will also help you to understand how monkeypox  spread and how it can be treated. 

Causes of monkeypox 

Monkeypox is particularly a viral disease caused due to monkeypox virus. This monkeypox virus belongs to the orthopoxvirus genus, from which the virus responsible for causing smallpox is associated. 

This disease was identified by the scientists in the year of 1958. This disease is named monkeypox because there were two outbursts among those monkeys used for research. 

In 1970 the first case, monkeypox, was seen in humans in the Democratic Republic of Congo. 

Symptoms of monkeypox 

Symptoms of monkeypox are very much similar to the symptoms of smallpox. However the symptoms of monkeypox are comparatively lenient then the symptoms of smallpox. 

After getting contracted by the virus of monkeypox, its symptoms will take around the time of appearing in five to seven days and in many cases it appears in the time period of seven to fourteen days. 

Some of its symptoms includes: 

• Muscle ache 
• Back ache 
• Fever
• Headache 
• Chills 
• Fatigue 
• Swollen lymph nodes 

After the fever appears, in one to three days rashes will start forming on your overall body.  Some parts of your body where rashes will affects the most are mentioned below: 

• Face
• Genitalia
• Mouth 
• Eyes 
• Palms of hands 
• Sole of feets

Lesions are associated with these rashes which later get evolves in the following order: 

• Vesicles
• Scabs 
• Vesicles 
• Pustules 
• Macules 
• Papules 

When lesions get dried and get over, they fall off. 

Generally the symptoms of monkeypox remain for two to four weeks and after that get cured without any medical treatment. 

Potential risks of having monkeypox 

Some potential risks of having monkeypox includes: 

• Spesis 
• Bronchopneumonia 
• Swelling of brain tissue
• Infection in cornea
• Secondary infections

Vision loss can be the result of infection in cornea.

In some critical cases a bunch of lesions can be formed together and lead to skin fall off in large pieces. 

Monkeypox native place 

Central and Western Africa are the places from  where monkeypox is particularly originated. After the year 1970 monkeypox spreaded in these countries mentioned below: 

• South Sudan 
• Sierra Leone 
• Nigeria 
• Liberia 
• Gabon 
• Democratic Republic of Congo 
• Central African Republic 
• Cameroon 
• Benin 
• Côte d’Ivoire 
• Republic of Congo

Rural areas of The Democratic Republic of Congo are home for many types of infection causing viruses. 

Always remember to follow precautions before traveling to any of these countries. Try to avoid direct contact with animals because it may be possible that they are infected with monkeypox. You should also avoid direct contact with people who have been exposed to the virus. 

Reason behind the spread of monkeypox 

Reason behind the spread of monkeypox is the direct contact with these substances from infected humans or animals: 

• Bodily fluid
• Blood
• Respiratory droplets 
• Skin
• Mucous lesions 
• Saliva 
• Semen 

These substances from infected humans or animals can get into our body by the help of mucous membranes, broken skin or breathing. According to the statement of the Centers for Disease Control Prevention (CDC) it is stated that chances of person to person spread is very less. The main cause of spread of monkeypox from person to person is commonly prolonged face to face contact and large respiratory droplets. Then can happen if you will be in the 6- foot radius of the contaminated person. 

Monkeypox can be also transmitted from these reasons: 

• If an infected animal will bite or scratches you. 
• Eating meat of infected animals. 
• Getting in contact with contaminated things of infected animals or humans. 

The main carrier of monkeypox disease is still unknown. But, many researchers suspect African rodents. 

Is monkeypox deadly? 

According to the statement of the Centers for Disease Control Prevention (CDC), in every ten cases of monkeypox one will result in death. 

Critical cases are much more likely to result in death. Some of the risks factors involved with critical cases are: 

• Having prolonged exposure to viruses. 
• Being younger.
• Developing complications. 
• Improper overall health.

Treatment of monkeypox 

Sadly, there is no appropriate treatment currently present for treating the monkeypox disease. But, monkeypox can get better without any specific medical treatment. In simple words it is a self limiting disease. 

For preventing the monkeypox disease and controlling its outbreak few medications are used such as: 

• Antiviral medications 
• Vaccinia vaccination 
• Vaccinia immune globulin (VIG) 

The World Health Organization (WHO)  stated that the vaccination of smallpox is around eighty five percent effective for the prevention of monkeypox disease development. If you had taken the vaccination of smallpox in your childhood and got in contact with the virus of monkeypox disease then you will experience less issues of monkeypox disease then the normal person.  

Vaccination of both monkeypox and smallpox was approved in 2019. But, even now it is not available everywhere to the public. 

People with the high risks of monkeypox development 

You may have high risks of monkeypox development if you:

• Traveled to a country where monkeypox disease cases are common.
• Came into contact with imported animals.
• Got a bite or scratch from an infected animal or human. 
• Eaten meat of infected animals.
• Work around the patients of monkeypox disease. 
• Live with a patient with monkeypox disease. 
• Live near a tropical rain forest or travel from there. 

Methods of diagnosing monkeypox 

Some types methods of diagnosing mmonkeypoxwhichay be used by your doctor to diagnose you includes: 

• Lab tests: These are the bunch of the tests which includes testing the fluids from the lesson or dry scabs. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests are used for checking the virus from these samples. 

• Medical history: This method of diagnosing monkeypox includes travel history of yours and it will also help your doctor for determining your risk.

• Biopsy: This method of diagnosing monkeypox includes taking part of your skin as a sample and performing the test on it to determine whether virus is present in it or not. 

For the diagnosis of monkeypox disease the blood test is not generally suggested because the virus of monkeypox stays in the blood for a very short time period. That’s why it is not valid for diagnosis of monkeypox disease. 

Takeaway 

Monkeypox is a common disease caused by a virus. It is a type of zoonotic disease which denotes it gets spread from animals to persons . However, it can also spread from person to person. 

Its first symptoms include muscle ache, swollen lymph nodes and fever. With the progression of these diseases, rashes start appearing on the face and extremities. These rashes include lesions which later evolve into fluid blisters. These fluid blisters then get dry up and fall off. The rash particularly starts from the face and then continues moving downwards, generally to the arms and the legs. But, it can also appear to the other parts of the person’s body such as eyes, palms of hands, soles of feet, mouth and genitalia. 

It most commonly occurs in central and western Africa. In case you have currently traveled any of these locations then it will be necessary for you to get a diagnosis for monkeypox.