Initially, the patient’s ulcer was treated with a topical combination ointment.
Monkeypox (Representational Image: iStock)
After the outbreak of monkeypox cases globally, Scientists have now identified a mouth ulcer as the initial indicator of monkeypox viral infection.
Recent infection with monkeypox virus can initially present with very few pronounced clinical symptoms and lacking signs of infection, and only few skin vesicles may be visible.
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German researchers have recently demonstrated the case of a 51-year-old HIV-positive patient whose mouth ulcer developed as the first evident symptom of monkeypox virus infection.
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According to Stefan Schlabe, University Hospital of Bonn, Department of Medicine, and colleagues, the patient presented to his general practitioner with a vesicle at the left corner of the mouth that had appeared the day before.
“He had no clinical signs of infection; his HIV infection had been well controlled for years, both virologically and immunologically, with antiretroviral therapy,” said the study published in the journal Deutsches Arzteblatt international.
Initially, the patient’s ulcer was treated with a topical combination ointment.
In just few days, the patient developed a painful ulcer at the left corner of his mouth and went back to his general practitioner. A swab for sample was taken from the ulcer.
“Testing by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) confirmed monkeypox virus. Subsequently an increase in monkeypox vesicles was noted on the skin, but also on the palate,” the researchers noted.
It was decided to admit the patient to the hospital for tecovirimat antiviral treatment as a result of the developing swelling at the base of the tongue and difficulty speaking, they continued.
According to the World Health Organization, the monkeypox outbreak continues to be a global health emergency, which is the highest level of alert (WHO).
There have been 36 fatalities so far, with approximately 80,000 cases reported across 106 countries.
(inputs from IANS)
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