smallpox-monkey-kids
After the appearance of Covid 19, the world remains in alarm, although this time due to a much more limited disease in terms of contagion. However, recently we have heard of monkeypox, a disease that until very recently was endemic to some countries on the African continent but has now spread to other parts of the map. Although there is no need to be worried, it is good to know what this disease is about and to know what symptoms of monkeypox in children.
Originally from the tropical forests of central and western Africa, it is common there because it is where the animals that can be carriers of the virus live. People in the area can also catch this disease although visitors and tourists who were in these regions They may also have been infected, later spreading the virus in other territories.
What is monkeypox
It is a viral zoonotic disease that is caused by a virus, with the detail that it can be transmitted from animals to humans or spread from person to person. Monkeypox was detected in a laboratory in 1958 and received that name precisely because the virus was found to be present in several monkeys that were being studied. Despite its name, it is a disease that can be acquired by many species of animals, although the most susceptible to contracting it are rodents, dormice and prairie dogs.
While it is a disease that can sometimes cause death (It is estimated that there is a death rate between 3 and 6%), in most cases the symptoms disappear after a few weeks. Yes, there are certain risk groups, such as newborns, children and people with immunodeficiencies, since the symptoms may be more severe. In these cases, skin infections, pneumonia, confusion, and eye infections can occur that can lead to vision loss. Between 3% and 6% of identified cases where monkeypox is endemic have resulted in deaths.
Symptoms of monkeypox
Symptoms of monkeypox in children and adults include:
- fever
- intense headache
- muscle pains
- backache
- little energy
- swollen lymph nodes
- rashes or lesions on the skin.
Fever is one of the first symptoms of monkeypox in children and adults but one of the most striking symptoms is the rash. Between the first and third day of fever, the appearance of small, highly visible lesions that can be flat or slightly raised is common. They present a characteristic transparent or yellowish liquid and evolve until they form crusts, dry up and fall off.
The lesions can appear on the face, the palms of the hands, and the soles of the feet, although they could also appear on the mouth, genitals, and eyes. The amount varies, it can be a few or be covered with them. The disease lasts between three and four weeks, with symptoms during that period of time that gradually disappear. The monkey pox It does not require any treatment in a typical stage of the disease, but if other symptoms are noticed, it is important to contact the doctor immediately.
consult the doctor
Remember that it is important to keep a strict control in the case of children since it is a public more sensitive to this disease. In the case of noticing any of the symptoms, make an immediate consultation in order to follow the instructions of the specialist. A timely consultation can be of great help, especially when it comes to diseases about which we know little. While monkeypox generally does not anticipate severity, any virus should be monitored regularly throughout the disease period.