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Mpox: what sexual health physicians need to know?

International Journal of Impotence Research volume 36, pages 556–561 (2024)Cite this article

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Abstract

Monkeypox virus (MPXV) is another zoonotic virus spilled over to the man and resulted in pandemic. World Health Organization declared it as a ‘Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on July 22, 2022. Mpox affected over 95226 individuals among them claimed the lives of 185. Despite the fact that Mpox is generally mild and self-limited, immunocompromised people with low CD4 counts may experience severe disease course. Management of Mpox patients has three pillars. First symptomatic approach includes pain management, prophylaxis for secondary infections and when needed effective treatment of superinfections. Second, vaccines developed against smallpox can be used in preexposure or postexposure prophylaxis strategies against Mpox. Third, current antiviral options include tecovirimat, cidofovir and birincidofovir all of which have been recommended relying on experience from animal studies, clinical case reports or case series. Results of well-planned randomized control trials are not available. Occupational exposure to MPXV is especially a manageable risk for health care workers. Prevention of Mpox also requires risk communication with vulnerable population and their involvement in mitigation efforts.

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Acknowledgements

This manuscript is reviewing the current understanding on Mpox infection and thus no IRB approval is needed. There is no funding for this study.

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  1. Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, Sihhiye, Ankara, 06230, Turkey

    Ahmet Çağkan İnkaya

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İnkaya, A.Ç. Mpox: what sexual health physicians need to know?. Int J Impot Res 36, 556–561 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41443-024-00964-w

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