The main differences according to doctors

New Delhi:

Common symptoms of rash and fever in both monkeys and chickenpox have caused confusion among the public, although doctors have emphasized that the symptoms of the two viral diseases differ in the way they present in patients.

They advised to consult a doctor to clarify doubts.

Monkeypox is a zoonotic viral disease (a virus transmitted from animals to humans), although clinically less severe, its symptoms are similar to those seen in the past in patients with smallpox.

During the monsoon season, people are more susceptible to viral infections, and during this time, cases of chickenpox are often seen along with other infections, which also have symptoms like rash and nausea, said Ramanjit Singh, a consultant dermatologist at Medanta Hospital.

“Because of this situation, some patients get confused and misunderstand chickenpox and chickenpox. Dr. Ramanjit Singh said.

To further explain, monkeypox often begins with fever, malaise, headache, and sometimes a sore throat, cough, and lymphadenopathy (lymph nodes), which appear four days before skin lesions, rashes, and other problems. It spreads over the eyes and body.

Other experts agree that there are other symptoms in addition to chickenpox, but it is always best to consult a doctor to ask questions.

In some recently reported cases, two suspected cases of monkey flu have been shown to be chickenpox.

A suspect with chickenpox, who was admitted to Lok Naik Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital (LNJP) in Delhi last week with fever and injuries, tested negative for the infection but was diagnosed with chickenpox. Similarly, an Ethiopian national who visited Bengaluru was tested for smallpox.

So far, India has reported four cases of monkey flu – three from Kerala and one from Delhi. the doctor. “In monkey fever, the lesions are larger than in smallpox,” says Satish Kaul, MD, director of internal medicine at Fortis Memorial Research Institute. “In monkey fever, the lesions appear on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. Days, but not in smallpox. The lesions are vesicular and itchy in chikungunya. Satish Kaul said that in the case of monkey fever, the duration of the fever is longer and the lymph nodes are enlarged in such a patient.

Detailing the virus that causes chickenpox, SCL Gupta, medical director at Batra Hospital, said that chickenpox is a ribonucleic acid (RNA) virus, which is not dangerous but can lead to a rash. “It is the season of chickenpox. Generally, during the rainy season, there is dampness, high temperature, waterlogging, dampness and wet clothes, which leads to the growth of the virus.

There is also a religious aspect associated with this disease. People consider her a “god”, so such patients are not treated with any medicine. “They are isolated and given time to recover,” he said.

Speaking of monkeypox, d. SCL Gupta explained that this virus requires an animal host but is self-curing with sore throat, fever, and normal viral symptoms.

The main symptom of this virus is a rash with fluid in the body. This leads to a viral infection, which weakens the body’s resistance. But complications arise from its complications. Any bacterial infection that leads to pus and blisters. It causes more complications in the body. . “Right now, monkeypox is in its juvenile stage. We don’t have the proper treatment. We isolate the suspected patient and treat them according to their symptoms. In the case of a throat infection, we use the generic medicines that we normally take. So, this is a case of symptomatic treatment.”

Doctors were also asked questions about whether a previous infection with chickenpox makes a patient immune to monicapox, and the answer is a resounding no.

Both are caused by different viruses, the mode of transmission is different and previous infections do not provide protection against new viruses, said Rajinder Kumar Singhal, Senior Director and Head of Department at BLK Max Hospital in New Delhi. But he emphasized that people who received the smallpox vaccine were less likely to get monkey flu.

“Smallpox vaccination was discontinued after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the disease completely eradicated in 1979-80. People born before 1980 who received smallpox vaccine were less likely to get smallpox. Viruses of the same family added Dr. Rajinder Kumar. Senegal.

Because of this similarity between smallpox and monkeypox, many countries have allowed smallpox vaccines to be given, but not yet in India. “The virus is in its young stage and doctors are still detecting it,” SCL Gupta added.

(Aside from the headline, this story was not edited by the NDTV crew and was posted from a syndicated feed.)