He said there were fewer reports of fever and fatigue, while reports of skin lesions in the genital and anal areas were more common. The location of the lesions suggests transmission during intimate contact, and the researchers called for more resources to support sexual health clinics. “Currently, the UK and many other countries are seeing a rapid increase in cases of monkeypox among people attending sexual health clinics, with no apparent links to countries where the disease is endemic,” said Dr Nicolo Girometti of the NHS Foundation Trust. of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. Trust London. “Monkey pox is a new diagnosis in the sexual health context and our study, the first to publish cases from this outbreak in the UK, will support future case finding and clinical care.” The study includes 54 cases collected from four London sexual health centres. Each had a laboratory-confirmed infection. All but two patients said they did not know they had come into contact with a known case of monkeypox. None had traveled to sub-Saharan Africa, where the disease is common. Many had recently visited other European countries. Each of the patients identified as men who have sex with men. About 90% reported at least one new sexual partner in the previous three weeks. Almost all reported inconsistent condom use. More than half had more than five sexual partners in the previous 12 weeks. About 94% of patients had at least one lesion on their genitals or around the anus. Most had mild disease, although five were hospitalized for pain or infected skin lesions. All were later discharged. “The frequently observed symptom of skin lesions in the anus and penile region, and the fact that a quarter of patients tested positive for gonorrhea or chlamydia at the same time as monkeypox infection, suggests that transmission of monkeypox virus in it is this cohort that occurs skin-to-skin, for example in the context of sexual activity,” said Dr. Ruth Byrne of Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. “However, this finding may be biased by the fact that we are sexual health providers and therefore may not reflect transmission in the wider population.” Monkeypox infection with these symptoms can mimic common sexually transmitted infections, such as herpes and syphilis, he said. “It is important that clinicians and sexual health patients are aware of the symptoms of monkeypox as misdiagnosis of the infection may prevent the opportunity for appropriate intervention and prevention of further transmission,” Byrne said. While fewer of these patients were weak, tired or had a fever than in previous outbreaks, about 18% had no symptoms before skin lesions appeared. The authors noted that their findings may not be representative of the outbreak because their tests were performed on a specific group of infected individuals. The findings were published July 1 in The Lancet Infectious Diseases. More information The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on monkeypox. SOURCE: The Lancet Infectious Diseases, news release, July 1, 2022 From your website articles Related articles around the web
