published24. August 2022, 10:40
ItalyMan (36) tested positive for monkeypox, corona and HIV at the same time
The first case in the world has become known in which someone tested positive for monkeypox, Covid-19 and HIV at the same time. All three infections were new.
… and tested for Covid-19.
20min/Thomas Sennhauser
The patient, a 36-year-old Italian man, developed a fever, sore throat, fatigue, headache and groin inflammation regarding nine days following returning from a five-day trip to Spain during which he had unprotected sex with men.
The man had tested positive for the corona virus three days following the symptoms appeared, as can be seen from a “Journal of Infection» published case report. A rash appeared on his left arm just a few hours following the positive coronavirus test. A few days later, blisters had spread all over his body, so he went to the emergency room of a hospital in Catania, a city on the east coast of Sicily.
Patient recovering from Covid-19 and monkeypox
A battery of tests carried out at the hospital came back positive for monkeypox, Covid-19 and HIV. The HIV test showed a high viral load and his CD4 count obtained and a negative test less than a year ago indicate he was recently infected. The patient was finally discharged from the hospital following almost a week and has now recovered from Covid-19 and monkeypox. Only a small scar remained.
“This case shows how the symptoms of monkeypox and Covid-19 can overlap and confirms that in the case of co-infection, history taking and sexual habits are crucial for the correct diagnosis,” the researchers from the University of Catania say in their case report.
“Of note, the monkeypox throat swab was still positive at 20 days, suggesting that these individuals may be contagious several days following clinical remission,” the report continues.
The researchers added: “Since this is the only reported case of simultaneous infection with monkeypox virus, Sars-CoV-2 and HIV, there is not yet enough evidence that this combination can aggravate the patient’s condition. However, with the current Sars-CoV-2 pandemic and the daily increase in monkeypox cases, healthcare systems must be prepared for this possibility.