Monkeypox Symptoms In Humans – People in tier one countries, including the United Kingdom, Spain, France, Germany, Australia, Argentina, Canada, and the United States, are in fear as monkeypox is rising in these countries.
Before this outbreak, most health experts and governments of these countries thought that monkeypox was just limited to African nations. These governments thought that several factors influenced the monkeypox virus, including clean weather.
All of their beliefs and research were proved wrong when monkeypox started spreading in the United Kingdom after some rave parties. Till now, more than 20 countries have reported cases of monkeypox in their countries.
Similar to any other disease and virus in the world, if you want to ensure your safety against the virus, you need to learn about the basic symptoms.
That is why today we are going to discuss monkeypox symptoms in humans. These basic symptoms will help you differentiate between general rash, pox, and monkeypox virus.
Common symptoms of monkeypox virus
Before we move ahead and talk about anything else related to the monkeypox virus, let’s first discuss the most common symptoms of the virus.
Health organizations around the world, including the Centers for Disease Control and prevention, believe that monkeypox is not as deadly a virus as smallpox. Most people infected with the virus start to feel better After two to three weeks of infection.
Fever
Fever is the most common monkeypox symptom in humans. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States believe that around 90% of people who are infected with the monkeypox virus are going to experience fever as a first symptom.
If we compare the intensity of fever in smallpox and monkeypox, then you will find that the intensity of every symptom, including fever in monkeypox, is on the much lower side.
One more thing you should note is that fever alone is not any sign of monkeypox. Even if you have been experiencing fever for the last two to three days, you should not conclude it as monkeypox unless you have tested positive for the same. You can experience fever due to any other disease or general flu.
Body Pain
The next most common symptom of monkeypox after the fever is body pain. Most people who get infected with the virus are going to experience headaches, muscle aches, and back aches for the first one to two weeks.
After 7 to 14 days of infection, you might start to feel better, but these symptoms might also take up to 21 days, only if you are infected with the monkeypox virus.
If you are experiencing pain throughout your body along with fever and you do not have any other symptoms of monkeypox, then you should not conclude it as a monkeypox virus. There could be hundreds of different reasons which can cause pain throughout the body and fever at the same time.
Fatigue And Exhaustion
Apart from body pain and fever, you might experience extreme fatigue and exhaustion during monkeypox virus infection. Health experts usually prohibit everyone infected with the virus from driving any car or using heavy machinery.
Monkeypox virus is not among the deadliest diseases in the world, but it is going to stay in your system for at least two to four weeks. You should be very careful during that time. There is no doubt that monkeypox is going to lower the quality of your life temporarily, and it is also going to affect your day-to-day activities.
Lesions and swollen lymph node
Most symptoms of the monkeypox virus might look similar to General flu or smallpox, but one thing which differentiates the monkeypox virus from general flu or smallpox is the lesions and swollen lymph nodes.
Usually, these lesions can be flat or slightly raised, and they might also be filled with clear to yellowish fluid. In the end, these lesions are going to dry up and fall off. You should be very careful around that time as these visions can also infect a healthy person.
Most of these symptoms last between two to four weeks, and people do not require any additional treatment. Your doctor and the Centers for Disease Control and prevention might recommend you to get vaccinated with the smallpox vaccine as a treatment option.
Diagnosis of Monkeypox Virus
The diagnosis of the Monkeypox virus can be very challenging for a regular doctor. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the United States have already marked the monkeypox virus as a rare disease.
Because of all that, it is not a surprise that your health expert might misdiagnose the monkeypox virus as a general rash or smallpox at first.
Monkeypox outbreak is not a common outbreak of the virus in the United States. Today, where the monkeypox virus has already made it to the news, your doctor might use keen observation to detect the virus correctly for the first time.
To diagnose you with monkeypox, your doctor might ask you to take a blood test or take a sample of your lesions. After taking a look through the microscope, your doctor will be able to diagnose monkeypox.
In case you are found positive for the monkeypox virus, then your doctor will follow the treatment guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and prevention for monkeypox.
At the same time, your doctor might also have to let the authorities, including the Centers for Disease Control and prevention, know that there is a patient with the monkeypox virus. The CDC will later follow all the guidelines related to rare infectious diseases.
Treatment for Monkeypox Virus
Now, let’s take a look at all the available treatment options for the monkeypox virus. Most health experts believe that monkeypox symptoms go away on their own after a few weeks, and people do not even require any medical attention for the infection.
Currently, there is no fixed and specific treatment available for the monkeypox virus. To lower the intensity of symptoms, your doctor might use a combination of treatments.
First of all, you might be given a vaccine for smallpox which is very effective against monkeypox also. Most studies on the vaccine for smallpox have successfully concluded that the Smallpox vaccine is 85% effective against the monkeypox virus also.
The smallpox vaccine is going to be effective on monkeypox even if you have already been infected with the virus.
Apart from that, people who are at higher risk of severe illness from monkeypox might require additional medical attention. Your doctor will decide the treatment depending on several things.
- Your previous history with a similar virus.
- Old smallpox vaccine status.
- The intensity of current symptoms.
- The current age of the patient.
- Any other chronic illness.
Your doctor will send a report of these things to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and after consultation with the authorities, your doctor will suggest a treatment for the virus.
Prevent Monkeypox Virus
As you are already aware that treatment options for the monkeypox virus are very limited, and medical science has not found any specific treatments for the virus yet.
That is why you need to take good care of yourself and try to prevent the monkeypox virus for your safety. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have several measures which can help you prevent the infection.
First of all, you should try to avoid contact with animals that could harbor the virus. Apart from that, you should also try to stay away from animals that are sick, or you found dead in areas where monkeypox can occur.
At the same time, it is also a wise decision to stay away from any material which might be related to sick or dead animals, including bedding.
If you or anyone from your family has been infected with the monkeypox virus, then you should follow the isolation guidelines issued by the Centers for Disease Control and prevention.
Even if you are taking care of an infected person, you should always use personal protective equipment, also known as a PPE kit.
Apart from all that, you should practice good hand hygiene after you get in contact with any human or animal. You should keep an alcohol-based hand sanitizer along with you while you are traveling in public places.
Is the monkeypox virus more dangerous than COVID-19?
No, the monkeypox virus is not more dangerous than COVID-19. At the same time, it is also not as contagious as coronavirus. Usually, it requires close physical contact with someone who has already been infected to spread between humans. As per the World Health Organization, the risk of the monkeypox virus in the general public is low.
What should I do if I have monkeypox virus symptoms?
One or two symptoms, other than lesions and swollen lymph nodes, are also related to several other diseases, including general flu. That is why you should not self-diagnose as infected with the monkeypox virus even if you have one or two symptoms. If you believe you have the monkeypox virus, then you should let your doctor know about it before you make an appointment.