Explore quick and easy treatment techniques for monkeypox, a rare viral disease. Discover effective ways to relieve symptoms and speed up recovery. Learn about various medical interventions and home remedies that can help manage monkeypox and promote recovery.
Table of Contents
I. Introduction
II. Symptoms of Monkeypox
III. How common is the disease?
IV. Symptoms of monkeypox
V. Medical Interventions
VI. Home Remedies and Self-Care Tips
What is monkeypox?
Mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) is a rare disease caused by a virus. It leads to skin rashes and flu-like symptoms. Like the best-known virus that causes smallpox, it is a member of the Orthopoxvirus genus.
- Mpox is spread through close contact with someone who is infected. You can also get it from an infected animal.
There are two known types (clades) of pox virus: one native to Central Africa (Clade I) and one native to West Africa (Clade II). The current global epidemic (2022 to 2023) is caused by Clade IIb, a subtype of the less severe West African clade.
How common is the disease?
Smallpox is rare. But the number of cases is rising in Africa, as well as in regions that have never seen these infections before.
How does monkeypox spread?
You can contract monkeypox through close contact with an infected person or animal or through material contaminated with the virus.
Person-to-person spread
Monkeypox can spread from one infected person to another through:
- infected droplets from coughs or sneezes that are inhaled or end up in the eyes, nose, or mouth (prolonged, close contact is usually necessary)
- physical contact with infected body fluids, scabs, or blisters, such as through touching, kissing, or sexual contact
- touching bedding, towels, or clothing used by an infected person.
Symptoms of monkeypox
The symptoms of smallpox are similar to those of smallpox. Symptoms of smallpox are typically milder.
- After contracting the monkeypox virus, it typically takes 6 to 13 days for symptoms to appear. However, this can vary from 5 to 21 days.
Early symptoms may include:
- fever, which is commonly the first symptom
- headache
- muscle pain
- backache
- fatigue
- chills
- swollen lymph nodes, also known as lymphadenopathy
After a fever develops, a rash usually appears 1 to 3 days later. The rash typically affects your:
- face, which is the most common site
- palms of the hands
- soles of the feet
- mouth
- genitals
- eyes, including the conjunctiva and cornea
A rash may appear before or after fever and other flu-like symptoms. Some people may only experience a rash.
The rash associated with MPOX consists of lesions that evolve in the following order:
- discolored macules or flat lesions
- papules or slightly raised lesions
- vesicles or bumps with clear fluid
- pustules or bumps with yellowish fluid
- crusts.
How long after exposure to monkeypox do symptoms appear?
The time it takes for symptoms to appear after exposure to an infected person (incubation period) is usually 1 to 2 weeks for monkeypox but can range from 5 to 21 days.
Medical Interventions monkeypox
The goal of treating MPOX is to take care of the rash, manage pain, and prevent complications. Early and supportive care is important to help manage symptoms and avoid further problems.
- Getting a vaccine against the disease can help prevent infection. The vaccine must be given within 4 days of contact with someone who has the disease (or within a maximum of 14 days if there are no symptoms).
People at high risk are recommended to get vaccinated to prevent smallpox infection, especially during an epidemic. This includes:
- healthcare workers at risk of exposure
- men having sex with men
- people with multiple sexual partners
- sex workers.
People with smallpox should be cared for away from other people.
Several antivirals, such as tecovirimat, originally developed to treat smallpox, have been used to treat smallpox, and further studies are underway. Further information is available on disease vaccination and case management.
Home Remedies and Self-Care Tips
Most people with smallpox recover within 2 to 4 weeks. Things to do to relieve symptoms and prevent contagion to others:
Do
- stay at home and in your room if possible
- wash your hands often with soap and water or hand sanitizer, especially before or after touching wounds
- wear a mask and cover the lesions when around other people until the rash heals
- keep your skin dry and uncovered (unless you are in a room with someone else)
- avoid touching objects in shared spaces and disinfect shared spaces frequently
- use salt water rinses for wounds in the mouth
- take sitz baths or warm baths with baking soda or Epsom salts for body wounds
- take over-the-counter pain medications such as acetaminophen (acetaminophen) or ibuprofen.
Not
- blisters or scratch wounds, which can slow healing, spread the rash to other parts of the body, and cause wound infection; OR
- Shave areas with sores until the scabs have healed and you have new skin underneath (this can spread the rash to other parts of the body).
To prevent the spread of the disease to others, people with the disease must isolate themselves at home or, if necessary, in a hospital, for the entire duration of the infectious period (from the onset of symptoms until the lesions heal and the scabs fall off). Covering lesions and wearing a medical mask in the presence of others can help prevent the spread. Using a condom during sexual intercourse helps reduce the risk of contracting mold, but does not prevent its spread through skin-to-skin or mouth-to-skin contact.
How is monkeypox cured quickly?
Cure and treatment for monkeypox
There is no specific approved treatment for monkeypox. However, an antiviral called tecovirimat (TPOXX), approved to treat smallpox, can be used for people who are at high risk of severe disease or have severe symptoms from monkeypox.
What treatment is useful for monkeypox?
Tecovirimate (TPOXX)
It is available in both oral and intravenous formulations. Although the antiviral was approved only for the treatment of smallpox, its approval by the FDA was based on studies conducted on nonhuman primates infected with monkeypox virus (mpxv).
What is the first-line treatment for monkeypox?
Tecovirimat is the first-line drug recommended for treating monkeypox, even among people with HIV infection. Clinically relevant interactions between tecovirimat, cidofovir and brincidofovir and some ARTs are known and should be taken into account when choosing treatment.
Can I cure monkeypox at home?
Although most people with monkeypox recover completely within 2 to 4 weeks without needing medical treatment, it is important to manage symptoms and take care of yourself to prevent further spread.
Can Vaseline cure monkeypox?
Wash your hands thoroughly after contact with affected areas. Apply a thin layer of ointment (such as Aquaphor or Vaseline) to the affected areas and keep them covered at all times. Using an ointment will soothe the rash, promote healing, and reduce spreading.
What kills the monkeypox virus?
It is important to remember that the smallpox virus can survive on surfaces, clothing and linens. Fortunately, it can be easily killed using household disinfectants and regular laundry detergents.