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Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.

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Monkeypox natural history

Introduction

Overview

Overview

Monkeypox is usually a self-limited disease with the symptoms resolving within 2 to 4 weeks. Complications are rare. They include secondary bacterial infection such as pneumonia, sepsis, encephalitis, corneal inflammation of the eyes[1][2][3], and conjunctivitis[4].

Complications

Complications

The complications of monkeypox are rare.

  • Common complications include secondary bacterial infection such as pneumonia, sepsis, encephalitis, corneal inflammation of the eyes[1][2][3], and conjunctivitis[4].
  • Recent reported complications were painful proctitis, tonsillitis, penile edema, and skin abscesses[5].
Prognosis

Prognosis

Uncomplicated cases resolve within 2 to 4 weeks. Complications may lead to death. Most reported deaths were among children, and HIV patients[6][7][8].

References

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Jezek Z, Grab B, Szczeniowski M, Paluku KM, Mutombo M (1988). “Clinico-epidemiological features of monkeypox patients with an animal or human source of infection”. Bull World Health Organ. 66 (4): 459–64. PMC 2491168. PMID 2844428.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Learned LA, Reynolds MG, Wassa DW, Li Y, Olson VA, Karem K; et al. (2005). “Extended interhuman transmission of monkeypox in a hospital community in the Republic of the Congo, 2003”. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 73 (2): 428–34. PMID 16103616.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Huhn GD, Bauer AM, Yorita K, Graham MB, Sejvar J, Likos A; et al. (2005). “Clinical characteristics of human monkeypox, and risk factors for severe disease”. Clin Infect Dis. 41 (12): 1742–51. doi:10.1086/498115. PMID 16288398.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 “Redirecting”. Retrieved 2022-06-14.
  5. ↑ Ogoina D (2022). “Sexual behaviours and clinical course of human monkeypox in Spain”. Lancet. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(22)01497-0. PMID 35952704 Check |pmid= value (help).
  6. ↑ Yinka-Ogunleye A, Aruna O, Dalhat M, Ogoina D, McCollum A, Disu Y; et al. (2019). “Outbreak of human monkeypox in Nigeria in 2017-18: a clinical and epidemiological report”. Lancet Infect Dis. 19 (8): 872–879. doi:10.1016/S1473-3099(19)30294-4. PMID 31285143.
  7. ↑ Beer EM, Rao VB (2019). “A systematic review of the epidemiology of human monkeypox outbreaks and implications for outbreak strategy”. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 13 (10): e0007791. doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0007791. PMC 6816577 Check |pmc= value (help). PMID 31618206.
  8. ↑ Ogoina D, Iroezindu M, James HI, Oladokun R, Yinka-Ogunleye A, Wakama P; et al. (2020). “Clinical Course and Outcome of Human Monkeypox in Nigeria”. Clin Infect Dis. 71 (8): e210–e214. doi:10.1093/cid/ciaa143. PMID 32052029 Check |pmid= value (help).

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Bassel Almarie M.D.[2]