Clinical-epidemiological characterization of monkeypox infection

Abstract

Introduction: monkeypox virus is a rare viral zoonotic disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans and between people.

Objective: to expose the epidemiological distribution, the clinical, diagnostic and treatment characteristics, as well as the preventive actions.

Methods: a systematic bibliographic review was carried out, for which 36 sources in Spanish and English were consulted, of which 28 were selected, which met the inclusion criteria. Historical-logical and analytical-synthetic methods were used to develop a critical assessment of the content of documents published between 2020-2022. The search strategy included the review of the SCIELO, LILACS, PUBMED, MEDLINE databases and the Google Scholar search engine. The search strategy included the review of the SCIELO, LILACS, PUBMED, MEDLINE databases and the Google Scholar search engine.

Development: The largest documented outbreak occurred in Nigeria in 2017. The incubation period varies between five and 21 days; Transmission occurs through direct or indirect contact with body fluids, blood, or skin and mucous membrane lesions. It begins with fever, headache, rash, muscle aches, lymphadenopathy, and fatigue. Complications include secondary infections, bronchopneumonia, septic syndrome. Polymerase chain reaction is the confirmatory diagnosis.

Conclusions: the clinical characterization of the monkeypox virus is difficult during the initial phase, unless the person is a close contact of an already identified case. Knowledge of the epidemiological situation, active surveillance and the effective development of health promotion and prevention actions are tools to control the spread of the disease.