- The first human case of monkeypox was recorded in 1970.
- The outbreak that emerged this 2022 has already caused more than 40 thousand people infected in more than 90 countries around the planet.
- Research published in JACC: Case Reports identified the first case of a monkeypox patient developing myocarditis.
The relative calm regarding the Covid-19 pandemic contrasts with another disease that for decades was endemic to Africa and is now found throughout the world. It’s about the monkeypox and within the questions around it now adds a possible association with myocarditis. If verified, it would be added to the increasingly long list of symptoms in patients.
The disease is not new
The first thing to clarify is that monkeypox is not a new disease because the The first human case was recorded in 1970. At that time it occurred in the territory now occupied by the Democratic Republic of the Congo and eventually spread to other neighboring nations.
It was not until the beginning of the 21st century that the first contagions were identified in other regions of the planet. The difference was that the outbreak was brought under control in a short time.
Instead, this 2022 for the first time arrived in Europe and so far they have already registered cases in more than 90 countries around the planet. In addition, they have occurred more than 40 thousand people infected and just over two dozen deaths.
Although the fatality rate remains quite low, it does not mean that the disease should be underestimated. Similarly, although the majority of cases have occurred in men who have sex with men, in reality all people are exposed. In fact, infections have been reported in babies.
Symptoms of monkeypox
Something very important is to know the symptoms in order to detect a suspicious case. Although during the last months it has changed, the main general discomforts are the following:
- Sudden onset of fever (38°C).
- Headache.
- Exhaustion.
- Muscle pains.
- Swelling of the lymph nodes.
- deep weakness.
- Rash, the first eruptions appear on the face, hands and later spread to the rest of the body.
But now the latest news is that for the first time, a case of myocarditis was identified in a patient with monkeypox. The incident was described in the medical journal JACC: Case Reports and is under review to see if there really is a direct relationship or it was just a coincidence.
Description of the medical case
Based on what was reported, the affected is a 31-year-old male who was diagnosed with monkeypox. Due to medical indications, he remained in isolation but a week later he began to have heart problems.
He had to return to the hospital and was admitted to the intensive care unit after an initial routine examination with the clinical suspicion of acute myocarditis. The initial electrocardiogram showed an unusual rhythm with nonspecific abnormalities of ventricular repolarization. In addition, routine laboratory tests revealed elevated levels of C-reactive protein, creatine phosphokinase (CPK), high-sensitivity troponin I, and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP).
After reviewing the results, it was found that the patient with monkeypox had myocarditis. Although one of the positive aspects is that after a week the man recovered and was discharged with a complete recovery.
For now, the authors of the research mention that more research is needed to identify if there is a relationship between monkeypox and myocarditis.
Also read:
First monkeypox death in Mexico: Everything we know
Monkeypox cases in the world increase 20% in a week
Decalogue to prevent contagion of monkeypox