Mpox (Monkeypox) | Transmission, Pathophysiology, Signs & Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment

Mpox (Monkeypox) | Transmission, Pathophysiology, Signs & Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment

Mpox (previously known as Monkeypox) is a viral infection caused by the Mpox virus, which is an orthopox virus in the same genus as Smallpox. Mpox was a relatively unknown infection until early 2022, at which time human-to-human transmission began to occur more frequently, leading to an exponential increase in number of cases. Transmission began to take place between humans, either via direct, indirect or vertical transmission. Once the Mpox virus is exposed to an individual, it uses particular membrane proteins on it’s surface to bind to and infiltrate into host cells. One of the first places it enters is the lymph nodes, and then will enter into the blood leading to the initial viremia stage of infection. The virus will eventually lead to symptoms after an approximately 4-21 day incubation period. Symptoms involve a flu-like prodromal stage of infection, with subsequent pox-like rash that occurs with vesicles and pustules. Eventually, skin lesions will resolve over the course of weeks in most patients; however, in patients with immunocompromise they can have issues with complications of Mpox, including eye issues, septicemia and encephalitis.

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JJ

REFERENCES:
StatPearls - "MPox (Monkeypox)" 2023
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK574519/

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