Monkeypox Treatment Clinic Q&A

The monkeypox virus shares the same family as the variola virus, which causes smallpox. Monkeypox symptoms are very similar to those of smallpox but milder and rarely fatal. Monkeypox has no relationship to chickenpox.

The main symptom of monkeypox is a rash that may be on or near the genitals (labia, vagina, penis, and testicles) or anus but it can be located on other areas like the mouth, face, chest, feet, and hands. The rash will progress through several stages, scabbing before it heals. The rash may look like pimples or blisters at first and they can be itchy and painful.

Symptoms other than the rash can include:

• Swollen lymph nodes
• Fever
• Chills
• Exhaustion
• Headache
• Muscle aches and backache
• Sore throat, congestion, or cough

You may experience a few symptoms or all of them. You may experience one or more of the symptoms before the rash appears or you may see the rash before other symptoms. In mild cases, you may only experience a rash.

Monkeypox can spread in a few ways.

Monkeypox spreads through close contact, mostly skin-to-skin contact. Direct contact with an infected area or body fluids from a person with monkeypox can lead to an infection. Coming in contact with fabrics, objects, or surfaces that have the virus can lead to an infection. You can also acquire it through respiratory secretions.

The risk of infection can increase with intimate activities. Intimate activities create opportunities for contact in the areas where monkeypox is mostly likely to be active, such as the genital area. Prolonged contact that comes from hugging, kissing, massage, and prolonged face-to-face contact make it easier for the virus to spread to you.

A fetus can become infected if the pregnant person has the virus.

It is also possible to become infected from infected animals. If the animal scratches or bites you the virus can transfer. You can also get it from preparing or eating meat or other products from an infected animal.

This must get special attention, monkeypox is contagious from the time you first get symptoms until your rash is fully healed. This can mean that you can be contagious for up to 4 weeks if you are infected.

Scientists are still researching the complete means that monkeypox can be spread. The full understanding of how it spreads through respiratory secretions and certain bodily fluids and secretions is not yet known.

While monkeypox and chickenpox both cause skin rashes they come from different viruses. Chickenpox is a herpes-type virus and monkeypox is an orthopoxvirus. Both are transmitted in the same way, but chickenpox is much more contagious. Swollen lymph nodes are more common with monkeypox than chickenpox.

The rash in chickenpox can come in waves. The monkeypox rash develops at one time. Chickenpox symptoms will usually get better in two weeks. Monkeypox lasts two to four weeks.

Monkeypox and smallpox come from the same viral family. Smallpox was eradicated through vaccination by 1980 and was much more contagious and deadly than monkeypox.

If you are concerned that you may have symptoms of monkeypox, Premier Acute Care Urgent Care can help diagnose and treat your symptoms. We have two convenient locations in Alexandria and Ruther Glen, VA. Call for an appointment. We also take walk-ins. For more information, call us today or schedule an appointment online. We have convenient locations to serve you in Alexandria VA, and Ruther glen VA. We serve patients from Alexandria VA, Ruther Glen VA, Bagdad VA, Athens VA, Balty VA, and Doswell VA.