differences between these rashes,” Freeman said.
Monkeypox is contagious and can spread until the bumps are gone, which is about two to four weeks.
If you have had chickenpox before, some of the symptoms of monkeypox might sound especially familiar, however, there are differences.
Here’s a summary from Dr. Nares Smitasin, a senior consultant with National University Hospital’s Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, on how monkeypox and chickenpox compare:
CHICKENPOX | MONKEYPOX | |
How is it transmitted? |
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What is the incubation period? | 10 to 21 days (average 14 to 16 days) | 4 to 21 days (average 5 to 13 days) |
What are the initial symptoms? |
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How do the rashes and blisters look? |
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How long does it take to recover? | 7 days after the rash begins (non-infectious when all rashes have crusted). | 7 to 14 days after the rash begins (non-infectious when all rashes have crusted). |
How is monkeypox spread?
People can contract this virus in several ways, including through touching the rash or scabs of an infected person during intimate contact. This is the most common type of transmission. The virus can also less commonly spread through respiratory droplets. It can also be passed by touching unwashed clothing or bedding from an infected person.
Monkeypox can also be spread by animals in areas where the virus is endemic, including central or western Africa, through a bite or scratch, by handling a live or dead infected animal, eating an infected animal, or using a cream or powder made from the animal.
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Think you have monkeypox? Here’s what to do
“Not every new rash is monkeypox. However, if you do think you have monkeypox, it’s important to see your doctor quickly. Patients who delay getting medical attention may be diagnosed later when fewer treatment options are available. Waiting also means that you can expose more people to the virus, so family and others may develop monkeypox,” Freeman said.
You should call your doctor’s office instead of going in, explaining symptoms first, and then getting advice about what to do.
People vaccinated against smallpox have less risk of developing monkeypox. Most people under age 50 have not received this vaccine because the vaccines stopped being routinely given in the United States in 1972. By then, smallpox had been eradicated.
Though no specific treatment for monkeypox is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, people at risk of developing severe disease may receive treatment with an antiviral medication for smallpox known as TPOXX.