This particular patient went to the hospital five days after the onset of his symptoms
Monkey pox can cause, among other things, problems with the heart, as shown by the case of a 31-year-old man in Portugal who developed acute myocarditis about a week after the first symptoms of monkey pox.
The scientists, led by Dr. Ana Isabel Pinho of the Cardiology Department of the Medical Center of the Portuguese University of São João, made the relevant publication in the journal “JACC: Case Reports” of the American College of Cardiology.
Monkeypox is caused by a virus that belongs to the same family as smallpox. It was first diagnosed in Europe in May 2022, while its cases have also been reported in the USA and other non-endemic (African) countries internationally, with the total number gradually increasing. Myocarditis is an inflammation of the heart muscle usually caused by a viral infection.
This patient presented to the hospital five days after the onset of his symptoms, which included fatigue, myalgia, fever, and multiple rashes on the face, hands, and genitals. Three days later, the patient developed a large heaviness in the chest and left arm, was admitted to the intensive care unit, and medical tests confirmed that he had acute myocarditis. The patient was discharged one week later, having fully recovered.
“This case highlights the heart as a potential complication associated with monkeypox infection,” Pinho said, noting the need for further study.
Most monkeypox infections are mild, however, and symptoms may last two to four weeks. At present, vaccination is only recommended for people who have been – definitely or probably – exposed to the virus.
RES-EMP
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