Monkeypox in India: Body Pain Symptoms and How to Prevent?

What is Mpox?

Mpox (previously known as monkeypox) is a viral disease caused by an orthopoxvirus called monkeypox virus. It spreads mainly through close contact with someone who has mpox, causing a painful rash, enlarged lymph nodes and fever. It can make people very sick and leave scars.

In areas where animals carry the virus, mpox is a zoonotic disease, meaning it can spread from animals to humans. It's found in tropical rainforests in central, east and west Africa, where small mammals such as squirrels, Gambian pouched rats, dormice, and various species of monkeys may be carriers.

How common is Mpox?

Mpox is rare. But the number of cases is increasing in Africa, as well as in regions that haven’t seen these infections before.

Since May 2022, mpox has spread globally, with cases reported from countries without previously documented mpox transmission. The spread in most countries today is from people and not animals.

How do you catch Mpox?

Mpox spreads when you come into contact with an animal or a person infected with the virus.

Person-to-person spread (transmission) occurs when you come in contact with the sores, scabs, respiratory droplets or oral fluids of a person who’s infected, usually through close, intimate situations like cuddling, kissing or sex. Research is ongoing, but experts aren’t sure if the virus is transmitted through semen or vaginal fluids.

Animal-to-person transmission occurs through broken skin, like from bites or scratches, or through direct contact with an infected animal’s blood, bodily fluids or pox lesions (sores).

You can also get mpox by coming into contact with recently contaminated materials like clothing, bedding and other linens used by a person or animal who’s infected.

What are the signs and symptoms of Mpox?

After exposure, it may be several days to a few weeks before you develop symptoms. Signs of mpox include:

• Fever and Chills
• Rash
• Headache
• Muscle aches
• Fatigue

The rash starts as flat, red bumps, which can be painful. Those bumps turn into blisters, which fill with pus. Eventually, the blisters crust over and fall off. The whole process can last two to four weeks. You can get sores on your mouth, face, hands, feet, penis, vagina or anus.

Not everyone with mpox develops all the symptoms. Different ways you might experience symptoms include:

• Only a rash (no other symptoms), or other symptoms developing later.
• Flu-like symptoms, then a rash. Some people don’t get a rash at all.
• A rash can be widespread, but some people only a have few bumps or blisters.

You can have mpox and not know it. Even if you don’t show many signs of infection, it’s possible that you can spread still spread it to others through prolonged close contact.

How is Mpox diagnosed?

Because mpox is rare, a healthcare provider may first suspect other rash illnesses, such as measles or chickenpox. But swollen lymph nodes usually distinguish mpox from other poxes.

To diagnose mpox, your healthcare provider takes a tissue sample from an open sore (lesion). Then, they send it to a lab for PCR testing. You may also need to give a blood sample to check for the mpox virus or antibodies your immune system makes.

Is Mpox treatable/curable?

Mpox is usually a self-limited disease and gets better without treatment, with symptoms lasting from two to four weeks. Following diagnosis, your healthcare provider will monitor your condition and try to relieve your symptoms, prevent dehydration and give you antibiotics to treat secondary bacterial infections if they develop.

It’s rare, but mpox is sometimes fatal. Mpox can also lead to problems (complications) like pneumonia and infections in your brain (encephalitis) or eyes, which can be life-threatening.

How do you prevent Mpox?

In addition to vaccines, other ways to help prevent the spread of mpox include:

• Avoiding contact with infected animals (especially sick or dead animals).
• Avoiding contact with bedding and other materials contaminated with the virus.
• Thoroughly cooking all foods that contain animal meat or parts.
• Washing your hands frequently with soap and water.
• Avoiding contact with people who may be infected with the virus.
• Practicing safe sex, including the use of condoms.
• Wearing a mask that covers your mouth and nose when around others.
• Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces.
• Using personal protective equipment (PPE) when caring for people infected with the virus.

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