eMedicine Specialties > Infectious Diseases > Viral Infections
Poxviruses: Follow-up
Updated: Aug 26, 2008
Follow-up
Deterrence/Prevention
Early recognition of poxvirus infection is essential to prevent inadvertent secondary spread.
Complications
- Vaccinia infections may spread locally (eg, vaccinia gangrenosum) or disseminate in immunodeficient hosts or in patients with eczema.
- Molluscum contagiosum may be refractory in patients with immunodeficiency (eg, HIV infection).
Prognosis
Most poxvirus infections have excellent prognoses in terms of healing, although localized scarring is common.
Patient Education
For excellent patient education resources, visit eMedicine's Skin, Hair, and Nails Center. Also, see eMedicine's patient education article Molluscum Contagiosum.
Miscellaneous
Medicolegal Pitfalls
Very few legal pitfalls are associated with poxvirus infections. Inappropriate administration of vaccinia vaccine to patients with immune deficiencies was one of the most serious errors made in the past. As of December 2002, a federal program is under way to vaccinate volunteer first responders and medical personnel. The medicolegal implications of vaccination are not clear at this time.
More on Poxviruses |
| Overview: Poxviruses |
| Differential Diagnoses & Workup: Poxviruses |
| Treatment & Medication: Poxviruses |
Follow-up: Poxviruses |
| Multimedia: Poxviruses |
| References |
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References
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De Clercq E, Neyts J. Therapeutic potential of nucleoside/nucleotide analogues against poxvirus infections. Rev Med Virol. Sep-Oct 2004;14(5):289-300. [Medline].
Meadows KP, Tyring SK, Pavia AT, et al. Resolution of recalcitrant molluscum contagiosum virus lesions in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients treated with cidofovir. Arch Dermatol. Aug 1997;133(8):987-90. [Medline].
Ibarra V, Blanco JR, Oteo JA, et al. Efficacy of cidofovir in the treatment of recalcitrant molluscum contagiosum in an AIDS patient. Acta Derm Venereol. Jul-Aug 2000;80(4):315-6. [Medline].
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Baxby D, Bennett M. Poxvirus zoonoses. J Med Microbiol. Jan 1997;46(1):17-20, 28-33. [Medline].
Di Giulio DB, Eckburg PB. Human monkeypox: an emerging zoonosis. Lancet Infect Dis. Jan 2004;4(1):15-25. [Medline].
Fenner F. Adventures with poxviruses of vertebrates. FEMS Microbiol Rev. Apr 2000;24(2):123-33. [Medline].
Fenner F. Poxviruses. In: Richman D, Whitley RJ, Hayden FG, eds. Clinical Virology. ed. New York, NY: Churchill Livingstone; 1996:357-74.
Fenner F, Henderson DH, Arita I, et al. Smallpox and its eradication. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization.; 1988.
Henderson DA, Inglesby TV, Bartlett JG, et al. Smallpox as a biological weapon: medical and public health management. Working Group on Civilian Biodefense. JAMA. Jun 9 1999;281(22):2127-37. [Medline].
Henderson DH, Moss B. Smallpox and vaccinia. In: Plotkin S, Orenstein WA, eds. Vaccines. 3rd. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders; 1999:74-97.
Lewis-Jones S. Zoonotic poxvirus infections in humans. Curr Opin Infect Dis. Apr 2004;17(2):81-9. [Medline].
Perna AG, Tyring SK. A review of the dermatologic manifestations of poxvirus infections. Dermatol Clin. Apr 2002;20(2):343-6. [Medline].
Slifka MK, Hanifin JM. Smallpox: the basics. Dermatol Clin. Jul 2004;22(3):263-74, vi. [Medline].
Further Reading
Keywords
poxviruses, pox virus, orthopoxviruses, parapoxviruses, smallpox, variola major, variola minor, flat smallpox, hemorrhagic variola, vaccinia, monkeypox, orf, contagious pustular dermatitis, contagious ecthyma, pseudocowpox, milker's nodule, molluscum contagiosum, Poxviridae, bovine papular stomatitis virus, pseudocowpox virus, sealpox virus, yatapoxviruses, yatapoxvirus, tanapox virus, yabapoxviruses, yabapoxvirus, buffalopox, cantagalo, aracatuba, deerpox virus
Follow-up: Poxviruses