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Exhaustion
Patients with monkeypox usually report a general sensation of tiredness and exhaustion. It is typically moderate, but it may sometimes reach the point of fatigue, which is a sensation of continuous tiredness, even after resting and having a good night’s sleep. This is also a prodromal symptom. It is reported as an early manifestation of monkeypox along with fever, enlarged lymph nodes, headache, and muscle aches. During the febrile phase of the disease, patients often feel poorly and require bed rest, proper hydration, and a balanced diet.
Monkeypox is a viral disease arguably transmitted by respiratory droplets and fomites. The most critical transmission mode is apparently through respiratory secretions, especially in patients who live in crowded living quarters and under poor hygiene conditions.
The disease is self-limited, and a resolution is expected after 2 to 4 weeks. There is a high mortality rate in African countries (up to 10% of cases, in the worst-case scenario), but most deaths are caused by overlapping infections. In contrast with the African statistics, there were no deaths reported in the U.S. outbreak of monkeypox back in 2003.
During the febrile stage, when the fever is highest, patients usually feel exhausted and have feeble health. Bedrest is required during this stage and after, and hospitalization can be necessary in some cases.
Precautions applied for close contacts and healthcare workers to curb the monkeypox virus transmission include self-isolation until the last skin lesion crusts and sheds, abstaining from sexual contact during this period, washing hands thoroughly, and using a face mask to minimize airborne infections.
As an additional note on prevention, we should note that animal to human transmission is highly prevalent. Thus, the importation of exotic animals is considered a risk of infection, especially if they come from endemic areas. Animals are suspected of infection if they display respiratory distress, ocular discharge, enlarged lymph nodes, and skin lesions.
