Monkeypox Treatment & Management

  • Author: Mary Beth Graham, MD; Chief Editor: William D James, MD   more...
 
Updated: May 8, 2012
 

Medical Care

The disease is usually self-limited; resolution occurs in 2-4 weeks. In the African cases, the mortality rate was 1-10%, and death was related to the patients' health status, and other comorbidities. Most patients died of secondary infections. No fatalities were reported in the recent US outbreak.

Patients often feel poorly during the febrile stage of the illness; therefore, bedrest along with supportive care may be necessary. Hospitalization may be necessary in more severe cases; a negative pressure room is preferable.

To avoid infection of health care workers and close contacts, airborne and contact precautions should be applied. See the current CDC recommendations at Guideline for Isolation Precautions in Hospitals and Updated Interim Infection Control and Exposure Management Guidance in the Health-Care and Community Setting for Patients with Possible Monkeypox Virus Infection.

Isolation must be continued until the last crust is shed.

Proceed to Medication
 
 
Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Mary Beth Graham, MD  Associate Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Medical College of Wisconsin

Mary Beth Graham, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians, Infectious Diseases Society of America, and Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Juliet L Gunkel, MD  Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health; Consulting Physician, University of Wisconsin Hospital

Juliet L Gunkel, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Mohs Micrographic Surgery and Cutaneous Oncology, American Medical Association, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, Wisconsin Medical Society, and Women's Dermatologic Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Janet Fairley, MD  Professor and Head, Department of Dermatology, University of Iowa, Roy J and Lucille A Carver College of Medicine

Janet Fairley, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology, American Dermatological Association, American Federation for Medical Research, and Society for Investigative Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Julie R Kenner, MD, PhD  Consultant, Clinical Research, Medical Affairs, VaxGen, Inc; Private Practice, Kenner Dermatology Center

Julie R Kenner, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology and American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

David F Butler, MD  Professor of Dermatology, Texas A&M University College of Medicine; Chair, Department of Dermatology, Director, Dermatology Residency Training Program, Scott and White Clinic, Northside Clinic

David F Butler, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American Medical Association, American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, American Society for MOHS Surgery, Association of Military Dermatologists, and Phi Beta Kappa

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Jeffrey P Callen, MD  Professor of Medicine (Dermatology), Chief, Division of Dermatology, University of Louisville School of Medicine

Jeffrey P Callen, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Dermatology, American College of Physicians, and American College of Rheumatology

Disclosure: Amgen Honoraria Consulting; Celgene Honoraria Safety Monitoring Committee

Catherine M Quirk, MD  Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania

Catherine M Quirk, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha and American Academy of Dermatology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

William D James, MD  Paul R Gross Professor of Dermatology, Vice-Chairman, Residency Program Director, Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

William D James, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Dermatology and Society for Investigative Dermatology

Disclosure: Elsevier Royalty Other

Additional Contributors

The authors and editors of eMedicine gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous authors, Michael W. Peterson, DO, and Juliet L. Gunkel, MD, to the development and writing of this article.

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