Mônica Bergamo: More than 90% of hospitals have difficulty diagnosing monkeypox in patients

A survey carried out by the Union of Hospitals, Clinics and Laboratories of the State of São Paulo (SindHosp) reveals that 93.5% of private institutions in São Paulo have faced difficulties in diagnosing monkeypox.

The survey was carried out between August 10 and 26 with 76 private hospitals, 25% of them in São Paulo and 75% in the countryside.

Just under half of the health units (43.42%) responded that they had already treated patients with suspected disease. Of this total, the majority (90.91%) said that the patient’s hospitalization was not necessary, which indicates a lower severity of the condition.

The biggest problem reported by the hospitals was related to the diagnosis of the disease: 93.5% said they faced difficulties, either in carrying out the laboratory examination (51.61%) or in the clinical evaluation performed by the doctor in the consultation (41.93% ) because it is a new disease.

Caused by viruses, monkeypox is spread primarily through contact with skin lesions of infected people. Symptoms of the disease include sudden onset of injury or soreness (one or more) anywhere on the body, headache, fever or chills, muscle aches, tiredness, lumps in the neck, armpit, or groin.

Infectologists have already been warning about diagnostic difficulties, since the disease can present subtle lesions and be confused with other diseases in its initial phase.

SindHosp and other institutions such as Coren-SP (Regional Nursing Council of São Paulo) have been promoting courses to train health professionals on the clinical aspects of the disease and on how to collect data for the exam.

The WHO (World Health Organization) announced on Wednesday (31) that more than 50,000 cases of monkeypox have been recorded worldwide since the outbreak began in May this year. In Brazil, there are 5,037 confirmed cases of the disease, according to the Ministry of Health bulletin released on Wednesday (31).

The SindHosp survey also reveals a slowdown in hospitalizations for Covid in the state. All hospitals surveyed reported that the occupancy of ICU beds by patients infected with the coronavirus is below 20%.

The survey also indicated that people with suspected Covid disappeared from emergency services. Only 3.76% of hospitals said that the care of cases of the disease are the main ones in the emergency sector.

Most units (46%) stated that complications related to chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes and hypertension are prevalent in their emergency services. Another 25.5% of hospitals said that the care of patients with respiratory syndromes other than Covid-19 prevails in the sector.

The entity’s survey also indicates the difficulty that hospitals are facing due to the increase in prices of supplies and medicines, a problem pointed out by 33% of the health units interviewed by the survey.

SHEET

Tenor Jean William received guests, on Wednesday night (31), at Sesi-SP, for the launch of the book “O Resumo da Ópera” (Letramento), which narrates his life story. The work is the result of more than three years of work and 50 interviews made by journalist Elcio Padovez. The night featured a concert by the Sesi-SP Bachiana Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by conductor João Carlos Martins.

_{with BIANKA VIEIRA, KARINA MATIAS and MANOELLA SMITH}