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Monkeypox risk higher in younger children: Study

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Monkeypox risk higher in younger children: Study
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Philadelphia (US), October 29: Children aged eight or younger should be thought of as a population at high risk for more serious monkeypox disease, suggests The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal, the official publication of The European Society for Paediatric Infectious Diseases. Young children would be a key target group for smallpox vaccination and other urgent measures if the outbreak spreads, according to a review by Petra Zimmermann, MD, PhD, of the University of Fribourg, Switzerland, and Nigel Curtis, PhD, of The University of Melbourne and Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Australia. They provide a professional perspective on "What doctors must know" about childhood monkeypox. Previous outbreaks have raised concerns about the risk of monkeypox in young children. As of August 2022, nearly 47,000 monkeypox cases with laboratory confirmation had been reported globally. Only 211 were adolescents and children under the age of 18. The monkeypox virus appears to have spread most widely in the current outbreak via sexual or other close contacts. Other transmission pathways, such as droplets and contaminated surfaces and objects, are still unknown. Also Read | Viral video: UP nurse grabs patient by hair, hospital officials clarify Smallpox and monkeypox viruses are both orthopoxviruses, and the epidemic is a result of inadequate population immunity due to low smallpox vaccination rates. The majority of cases of monkeypox are "self-limiting," with the rash appearing and fading away in 2 to 4 weeks. However, the absence or mildness of symptoms may result in missed diagnoses and future spread. Despite the low reported rates in children so far in this, there are special concerns about monkeypox complications and other serious outcomes in children. "Children are reported to have an increased hospitalization rate and increased mortality, even in high-income countries," Drs. Zimmermann and Curtis say. Based mainly on data from low-income countries, children under 8 are particularly at higher risk of complications, including potentially serious bacterial infections. Young children may also be at increased risk of complications related to scratching and spreading the infection to other parts of the body, including the eyes. With supportive care, the majority of monkeypox patients will recover. For severe cases and high-risk groups, such as children under 8 years old and people with underlying skin disorders, more specialized care is required. Pregnant individuals, immunocompromised patients, those with eczema, and those who have monkeypox rash around the mouth, eyes, or genitalia are additional risk populations. Antiviral drugs such as tecovirimat, which is effective against orthopoxviruses, and vaccinia immune globulin (VIG), which is used to treat side effects of smallpox vaccination, are therapy choices in these high-risk situations. However, "None of these treatments have been proven to be effective against monkeypox virus in humans in clinical trials, and they are currently only recommended after consultation with national health authorities," the reviewers write. Although the length of protection is unknown, the smallpox vaccine is effective in preventing monkeypox. Many people have never received a smallpox vaccination because the practice was abandoned when the disease was declared eliminated, which occurred in the United States in 1972. The FDA has approved a new vaccine (MVA-BN) for the protection of monkeypox, although children have not been "licensed or carefully studied" with it. Again, there is "very limited data" to support the use of drugs or vaccines to prevent monkeypox in children who have been exposed to the virus. The reviewers also go through certain unique issues for expectant mothers, nursing mothers, and babies born to infected mothers. Monkeypox can be asymptomatic, thus the outbreak could get out of hand and affect vulnerable populations like young children. The smallpox vaccine would be essential, and "extra urgent steps" would be required in that situation. Drs. Zimmermann and Curtis conclude that smallpox vaccination provides protection against monkeypox. Authorities should be ready to rapidly adopt immunisation of this age group if the present outbreak expands to youngsters. Also Read: Kejriwal demands pictures of Lord Ganesh, Goddess Lakshmi on currency notes -PTC News
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