Flesh-Eating Monkeypox Variant Causes Havoc in HIV Patients

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Highlights:

• HIV-positive people have made up 38-50% of individuals affected by the 2022 multicountry monkeypox outbreak
• The majority of reported instances involved patients with high CD4 cell counts who had similar results to those who did not have HIV
• New evidence suggests that persons with advanced HIV have poorer clinical outcomes and a greater mortality rate

Monkeypox, often known as mpox, is a disease caused by the same-named virus that may now infect humans. It usually happens when one comes into contact with an infected animal or person. And now, a severe strain of a flesh-eating variant of this disease is more lethal in HIV-positive people. According to a team of researchers, this disease killed up to 15% of HIV-infected persons. According to experts, it should also be referred to as AIDS-defining.

Currently, 14 infections have been identified as behaving differently in persons with advanced HIV. International health organizations refer to these as AIDS-defining conditions. It was also discovered that nearly half of those who contracted monkeypox in 2022 also had HIV, however, the majority are presently being treated and are not in an advanced state.

What is HIV?

HIV, or human immunodeficiency virus, is a virus that targets the body's immune system and, if not treated promptly, can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). A few patients have been reported to have been cured of HIV with stem cell treatment in recent years.

‘Currently, 14 monkeypox infections have been identified as behaving differently in persons with advanced HIV. It was also discovered that nearly half of those who contracted mpox in 2022 also had HIV.’

HIV has no cure and can only be controlled to prevent it from advancing to AIDS. Doctors recommend antiretroviral medications to prevent the virus from multiplying, lowering the likelihood of health deterioration.

What are the Early Symptoms of Monkey Pox?

• Headaches with red bumps
• Shivers/Chills
• Fever and high temperature
• Glandular swelling
• Backache
• Joint discomfort
• Exhaustion

According to a study published in The Lancet, 382 persons with monkeypox and advanced HIV experienced the following symptoms:

Infection that is severe

The danger of death

Rare lung lesions

Significant lesions

This group included 27 of the 60 people who died as a result of the infection.

Source: Medindia

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