The Ministry of Health has released a guide on Monkeypox (MPOX), which was declared an emergency by the World Health Organization. The guide includes information on the transmission routes of the virus, symptoms, what to do in case of contact with a case, and treatment methods.
The guide published by the Ministry of Health emphasizes that the disease is transmitted through contact.
It states: "In human-to-human transmission, prolonged close physical contact is important. Direct contact with an infected person's secretions (including sexual fluids) such as through hugging, massage, or sexual contact with lesions, direct contact with skin lesions on broken skin or mucous membranes (such as the eyes, nose, or mouth), or close contact with objects contaminated with skin lesions (like bed linens, towels, etc.) are other transmission routes."
The guide includes the following information: "Such contact generally poses a risk for individuals who share the same household, those who remain in close proximity in enclosed spaces for extended periods, and healthcare workers who come into contact with infected individuals without using personal protective equipment. Transmission from an infected mother to her baby through the placenta has been reported. In such cases, congenital monkeypox symptoms may appear in the newborn at birth or immediately after birth. Transmission can also occur through close contact with the newborn if the mother has an active infection. The longest reported transmission chain to date involves six to nine people."
The incubation period for monkeypox, which is the time from exposure to the onset of symptoms, is typically 6-14 days but can range from 1 to 21 days. Individuals with a history of animal bites or scratches may have a shorter incubation period (9 days) compared to those exposed through contact (13 days).
SYMPTOMS:
Clinical Course: The clinical picture begins with fever, severe headache, lymphadenopathy (swelling of the lymph nodes), back pain, myalgia (muscle pain), and pronounced fatigue. These symptoms are most prominent during the first 5 days.
Since lymphadenopathy is not as prominent in chickenpox, measles, and smallpox, it can be considered a supporting finding for the diagnosis of monkeypox.
The skin rash typically begins 1-3 days after the onset of fever. The rash tends to be more concentrated on the face and extremities rather than the trunk. It affects the face (in 95% of cases), palms, and soles (in 75% of cases). Additionally, it can involve the oral mucosa (in 70% of cases), genital area (30%), conjunctiva (20%), and cornea.
The rash evolves from macules (flat lesions) to papules (slightly raised, firm lesions), vesicles (lesions filled with clear fluid), pustules (lesions filled with yellowish fluid), and finally to crusted scabs. The number of lesions can range from a few to several thousand. In severe cases, the lesions may merge, leading to the peeling of large areas of skin.
Monkeypox is typically a self-limiting disease with symptoms lasting 2-4 weeks. Severe cases are more common in childhood. The severity of the clinical presentation can be influenced by the high viral load in contact and any underlying health conditions of the individual.
The smallpox vaccines administered before the eradication of smallpox also provide protection against monkeypox.
In Türkiye, smallpox vaccination was routinely administered until 1980.
Individuals born before 1980, if they received the smallpox vaccine, have a certain level of protection against monkeypox.
Complications of monkeypox can include secondary infections, bronchopneumonia, sepsis, encephalitis, and corneal infections that may lead to vision loss.
