Monkeypox vs Chickenpox: Key Differences According to Doctors

New Delhi:

Rashes and fever, the most common symptoms of both monkeypox and chickenpox, have caused confusion among people, although doctors have emphasized that there is a difference in how the symptoms of both viral diseases manifest in patients.

They also recommended seeing a doctor to clear any doubts.

Monkeypox is a viral zoonosis (a virus transmitted from animals to humans) with symptoms similar to those seen previously in smallpox patients, although clinically less severe.

In the rainy season, people are more susceptible to viral infections, and cases of chickenpox are common during this period, along with other infections, which also show symptoms such as a rash and nausea, said Dr. Ramanjit Singh, Visiting Consultant, Dermatology, Medanta Hospital.

“Because of this situation, some patients become confused and misinterpret chickenpox with monkeypox. The patient can determine whether or not they have monkeypox by understanding the sequence and onset of symptoms,” said Dr. Ramanjit Singh.

He further explained that monkeypox usually begins with fever, malaise, headache, sometimes a sore throat and cough, and lymphadenopathy (swollen lymph nodes), and all of these symptoms appear four days before skin lesions, rashes, and other problems begin primarily on the hands and eyes and spreads affect the whole body.

Other experts agree, saying that monkeypox has other symptoms besides skin involvement, but it’s always better to see a doctor to eliminate any doubts.

In some recently reported cases, two suspected cases of monkeypox turned out to be chickenpox.

A suspected monkeypox case who was hospitalized at Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital (LNJP) in Delhi last week with a fever and lesions tested negative for the infection but was diagnosed with chickenpox. Similarly, an Ethiopian national who went to Bengaluru was tested for monkeypox after showing symptoms, but his report confirmed he had chickenpox.

India has so far reported four cases of monkeypox – three from Kerala and one from Delhi. dr Satish Koul, director of internal medicine at the Fortis Memorial Research Institute, said: “In monkeypox, the lesions are larger than in chickenpox. In monkeypox, the lesions can be seen on the palms and soles. In chickenpox, the lesions are self-limiting after seven to eight days, but not so in monkeypox. The lesions are blister-shaped and itchy in chickenpox. In monkeypox, the lesions are broadly vesicular and not itchy.” Dr. Satish Koul also said that in monkeypox, the fever lasts longer and such a patient has enlarged lymph nodes.

dr Explaining the virus that causes chickenpox, SCL Gupta, medical director of Batra Hospital, said chickenpox is a ribonucleic acid (RNA) virus, which is not that serious but also causes skin rashes. “This is chickenpox season. Normally during the monsoon there is this humidity, temperature rise, waterlogging, moisture build-up and wet clothes, all of which lead to the growth of the virus.

“There is also a religious aspect to the disease. People treat her like a ‘goddess’ and therefore such patients are not treated with any medication. They will be kept in isolation and given time to heal,” he said.

Regarding monkeypox, Dr. SCL Gupta that such a virus requires an animal host but is self-limiting with a sore throat, fever and normal viral signs.

“The main sign of this virus is rashes on the body that contain fluids. This leads to a viral infection, which weakens the body’s resistance. But due to its complication, problems arise. In the case of a bacterial infection that gets pus and leads to blisters leading to further complications in the body. “Right now, monkeypox is in its juvenile stage. We don’t have proper treatment. We only follow the method of isolation and treat the suspected patient according to their symptoms. For a sore throat, we use the generic drugs we normally take. So this is symptomatic treatment,” he said.

Doctors have also received inquiries as to whether a previous chickenpox infection makes a patient immune to monekypox, to which the answer is a resounding no.

dr Rajinder Kumar Singal, Senior Director and Head of Department of Internal Medicine, BLK Max Hospital, New Delhi, said both are caused by different viruses, the route of transmission is different and a previous infection does not guarantee protection against the new one. But those who got the smallpox shot have reduced chances of contracting monkeypox, he claimed.

“The smallpox vaccine was discontinued after the World Health Organization (WHO) said the disease was completely eradicated between 1979 and 1980. People born before 1980 who received a smallpox vaccine have a lower risk of contracting monkeypox. Both smallpox and monkeypox are caused by viruses from the same family,” added Dr Rajinder Kumar Singhal.

Because of this similarity between smallpox and monkeypox, many countries have allowed the administration of “smallpox” vaccines, but this is still not allowed in India. “The virus is in the juvenile stage and doctors are still figuring it out,” added Dr. SCL Gupta added.

(Except for the headline, this story was not edited by NDTV staff and was published by a syndicated feed.)