This type of disease is caused by a virus, which is known as monkeypox. It is known as a viral zoonotic disease, which represents transmission from animals to humans and can also be transferred from person to person.
According to a study conducted by Science Media Center Spain on monkey virus in European countries and sampling patients who tested positive for Orthopoxvirus or monkeypox virus (MPXV), important results were obtained for its recognition by dermatologists and health care professionals who are not used to diagnosing this type of skin condition.
The results showed that most of the lesions began in the genital, facial, perianal or extremity areas. As these skin lesions develop and over days, they can take on a bubble-like, infected, or even sore appearance.
Apart from skin lesions, other less common but important manifestations were: inflammation of the distal part of the fingers, direct involvement of the oral or genital mucosa, and inflammation of the rectal mucosa. As well as systemic symptoms, the main symptom was swollen lymph nodes, followed by fever, muscle pain, weakness or exhaustion, and headache.
Monkey virus is considered a mild illness and in most cases there is no need for hospitalization.
Other epidemiological data observed in this study were that the highest percentage of patients had presented the diagnosis of some sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the previous months, another percentage used drugs in their sexual relations and almost half of the sample used for the study were positive for HIV.
It is important to encourage patients who have received a positive diagnosis of the virus to comply with the recommended isolation period. Also, have the vaccine to immunize contacts of confirmed cases or anyone who may be at higher risk of becoming infected.
