Monkeypox: Study finds two new symptoms of monkeypox you should know about

The monkeypox disease has now been detected in over 80 countries, accounting for over 17,000 cases worldwide. Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the virus as a global health emergency, warning people against negligence and complacency.

While healthcare professionals and scientists are still searching for answers regarding how the monkeypox virus spreads and whether it is a sexually transmitted disease, a group of researchers have found two other symptoms of monkeypox that are not previously known to be typical features of the illness.

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A study published in the British Medical Journal looked at data from 197 monkeypox patients based in the UK.

In an attempt to find how monkeypox has changed since the last outbreak, the team of researchers have found that unlike previous versions of monkeypox, the current virus outbreak causes new symptoms along with the other classic monkeypox signs.

While 71 patients involved in the study experienced rectal pain, 33 suffered from sore throats, 31 from penile oedema and 27 from oral lesions, there were 22 patients who experienced solitary lesions, and 9 who reported enlarged tonsils.

However, the authors clarified that there were several limitations including the observational nature of the study, the potential variability in the keeping of medical records, and the fact their patients were from a single medical centre.

Nonetheless, the study confirmed that monkeypox is mainly spread through gay or bisexual men having sex with other men.

Also read: Monkeypox can spread by direct skin-to-skin contact; high risk activities you should avoid

One of the new symptoms discovered in the study was solitary lesions.

Generally, a solitary lesion is a single, small and localized skin lesion that can range from harmless (warts) to life-threatening lesions such as melanoma.

That said, a solitary lesion associated with monkeypox can be misdiagnosed and treated for the wrong condition including syphilis and other STIs.

Patients in the study also reported swollen tonsils, which along with solitary lesions, were not previously known to be typical features of monkeypox infection and could be mistaken for other conditions.

As of now, the classic and tell-tale symptoms of monkeypox include:

- Fever

- Headache

- Muscle and joint pain

- Backache

- Swollen lymph nodes

- Rashes

- Fatigue

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), monkeypox can spread to anyone through close, personal, often skin-to-skin contact, including:

- Direct contact with monkeypox rash, scabs, or body fluids from a person with monkeypox.

- Touching objects, fabrics (clothing, bedding, or towels), and surfaces that have been used by someone with monkeypox.

- Contact with respiratory secretions.

The US health agency advises against sexual activities including hugging, kissing, and indulging in sexual intercourse.

The best way to prevent the spread of monkeypox is by limiting close and direct contact with confirmed monkeypox patients.

Apart from that, maintain distance from people who are showing typical signs of monkeypox.

The CDC recommends avoiding sex or being intimate with anyone who has a rash on their skin and hasn't been cleared by their healthcare provider. Furthermore, avoid sharing clothing, bedding and other accessories used by patients infected with the virus.