Mpox facts for kids

Mpox (also called monkeypox) is a sickness caused by a virus. It can affect people and some animals. Most of the time, it's a mild sickness. People usually get better in a few weeks without special medicine.

But it can be more serious for young children, pregnant women, older people, or those with weak immune systems. If these people get sick, or if anyone has severe symptoms, they might need to stay in the hospital for a bit. Mpox is often found in parts of Central Africa and West Africa.

History of Mpox

The first time doctors found mpox in a person was in 1970. This happened in a place called Basankusu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Since then, more people have gotten sick with mpox. The outbreaks have also become more serious. This might be because fewer people have protection from smallpox vaccines now. Smallpox vaccines used to help protect against mpox too.

The 2022–2023 mpox outbreak was the first time mpox spread widely outside of Africa. It started in the United Kingdom in May 2022. By May 2023, cases were found in 111 countries. The World Health Organization (WHO) said this outbreak was a global health emergency. This emergency lasted from July 2022 to May 2023.

Symptoms of Mpox

If you get mpox, you might have a rash. This rash can turn into blisters and then crust over. Other symptoms include a fever and swollen lymph nodes. Lymph nodes are small glands that are part of your body's defense system.

It usually takes 5 to 21 days for symptoms to show up after someone is exposed to the virus. Symptoms typically last for about two to four weeks. The sickness can be more serious for children, pregnant women, or people with weak immune systems.

How Mpox Spreads

Mpox is caused by the monkeypox virus. This virus is a type of Orthopoxvirus. It is a zoonotic virus, meaning it can spread from animals to humans.

People can spread mpox to each other through direct contact. This includes touching infected skin or body fluids. A person can spread the virus from when their symptoms start until all their skin sores have healed and new skin has formed. The virus can also spread from infected animals. This can happen if you handle infected meat or if an animal bites or scratches you.

Diagnosing Mpox

Doctors can find out if someone has mpox by doing a special test. They take a sample from a skin sore. Then they use a test called PCR to look for the virus's DNA.

Preventing Mpox

Getting a vaccine is a good way to prevent mpox for those who are at high risk. The MVA-BN vaccine is very good at lowering the chance of getting sick with mpox. It is about 86% effective.

Treating Mpox

Most people with mpox have mild symptoms and get completely better. This usually happens within 2 to 4 weeks. There isn't one specific medicine that cures mpox. However, doctors can give supportive care. This means they help manage the symptoms. For example, they can give medicine for pain or fever.

Antiviral medicines like tecovirimat can be used for severe cases of mpox. But more research is needed to fully understand how well they work. If someone has mild mpox, they should stay home and rest. It's important to drink plenty of fluids and eat well. Taking care of your mental health is also important during this time.

See also

In Spanish: Viruela símica para niños