Stories of children affected by Mpox Transmission, Here are the symptoms experienced

Jakarta –

Children in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo are the most affected by the current mpox outbreak, which has been declared a public health emergency of international concern by the Organization Global Health. The country accounts for almost all the cases recorded this year and more than 450 deaths.

“At first it was like a small inflamed spot. I pressed it and a watery discharge came out. Then another place appeared, and after a while, the spots spread all over the body,” said Alain Matabaro, explaining how mpox grew in him. six year old son, Amani.

About 75% of cases treated by medical staff there are under 10 years old, according to Dr. Pierre-Olivier Ngadjole works for the charity Medair.

Children seem to be particularly affected by mpox outbreaks because of their underdeveloped immune systems.

“You also see in homes, they even spend the night in the same bed. You get three, four, five children. Transplantation happens every day,” Dr. Ngadjole told him the BBC.

The worst case of mpox also occurred at a hospital in Kavumu, which is about 80 kilometers south-west of Munigi. 800 patients have been treated there since June. Eight of them died, and they were all under five years old.

Ansima Kanigo, who was only 2 years old, contracted monkeypox from one of her four siblings. They all suffer from the disease.

At first her mother, Nzigire Kanigo, 35, did not know what monkey trout was.

“This is the first time I have seen this disease. When my child was sick, other parents told me that it might be measles, we started to treat it but it failed. that’s why we decided to come here,” said Nzigire.

Health workers have visited places such as Mudja camp near Mount Nyiragongo to educate people on what to do when they see symptoms emerging. For example, limiting contact with other people.

“This disease makes us very afraid that we will all get sick,” said Josephine Sirangunza, who lives in the camp with her five children.

Children can catch mpox if they are in close contact with someone who has symptoms. Children can be exposed to the virus at home from siblings, parents, caregivers, or other family members through close contact.

As with infections in adults, the most common sign of mpox in children and adolescents is a rash that progresses from maculopapular lesions to blisters, pustules, and eventually a scab. Historical reports of Mpox clade I or II infections in children and adolescents indicate that the rash was often accompanied by fever, chills, sweats, lymphadenopathy, sore throat, headache or myalgia.

(kna/kna)