- Michelle Roberts
- Health editor, BBC
9 hours ago
The rash occurs as a result of infection with various diseases, including the monkeypox virus, although it is very rare.
So what are the things you should be sure of and think regarding when you develop a rash?
Could the rash really be due to monkeypox?
You must first ask yourself, is it likely that you will be infected with the virus in the first place? Knowing that infection occurs as a result of contact with an infected person, and the infection is often transmitted from skin to skin. There are very few people infected with it in the world today, which means that there are not many chances of infection.
Even in remote areas of some African countries, where it can sometimes spread, children rarely get it.
The first thing you will notice when you have monkeypox is flu-like symptoms, feeling tired, generally unwell and high body temperature, it is what doctors call the “invasion period” of the disease, that is, when the virus enters the cells of the body.
The glands swell followingward, as the immune system ramps up its fight once morest infection.
Then a rash occurs, going through different stages of “skin irritation”, beginning with a superficial rash and redness, then bumps and ulcers, before the stage of crust formation.
picture released, UKHSA
The shape of the rash changes and goes through different stages, and the infection may look like chickenpox or syphilis, before a crust forms and falls off later
“It starts with what we call patches, just red areas, and then it develops into blisters, which is something you can feel,” says Rosamund Lewis, of the WHO’s Emergencies Programme.
These red bumps and lumps then begin to ulcerate, and fill with a white fluid that looks like pus.
These blisters then wilt and crust, and eventually the crust heals and falls off.
“That’s why it’s confused with chickenpox,” Lewis says.
The monkeypox rash usually begins on the face, sometimes in the mouth, then the arms, legs, hands, and feet, as well as the trunk of the body.
In some cases, the rash is often around the genital area. “The rash may not be visible because it may be covered,” says Dr. Lewis.
The rash, which may look somewhat different from the color of the skin, can contaminate bedding and clothing.
The British Health Insurance Authority advises that any change or strange skin disease that occurs on the body, especially around the genitals, should be recognized, and that those affected should contact the necessary medical services and the sexual health service if they have any concerns.
“It can be very difficult to distinguish between different types of rashes, so if you are in doubt, follow the instructions and be sure,” says Tanya Blaker, president of the British Association of Dermatologists.
What does a rash also mean?
There are many possibilities, and here are some common ones:
Chickenpox
picture released, Getty Images
It usually causes a very itchy rash that goes through similar stages and ends with a crust. It is possible for a person to get chickenpox more than once in his life, and adults can get it once more, even if they had it as a child. Shingles infection – the reactivation of the chickenpox virus – also causes a rash, and can appear as patches, and are usually painful.
scabies
picture released, SPL
Scabies infection occurs as a result of a mite that lays its eggs on the skin, making it very itchy and red, and the rash can appear anywhere in the body, but often starts between the fingers, as the patient notices lines or tracks on the skin as well as there are points, and although they are not Serious, but highly contagious and needs treatment.
Bedbugs or insect bites
picture released, Getty Images
Bed bugs can bite a person if their mattress or mattress is infested. The insects are so small that you may not even notice them. Like other insect bites, they are itchy and red in the skin, and they often gather in the form of a line or a cluster.
A sexually transmitted infection such as syphilis or genital herpes
picture released, Getty Images
Herpes infection can also cause mouth ulcers
Syphilis is a bacterial infection that usually occurs through sexual intercourse with an infected person. Genital herpes is a virus that can be transmitted through sexual contact. Both can cause skin blisters, and if a sexually transmitted infection is suspected, it is important that a person undergoes medical examinations and treatment as soon as possible.
Hives / Allergy / Urticaria
picture released, Getty Images
This red, itchy, stinging rash is a skin reaction to something that the body thinks is a threat and is dealing with it, and sometimes the trigger is not detected at all, but the common causes lie in eating certain foods or coming into contact with certain plants, chemicals or medicines .
molluscum
picture released, Getty Images
It is a common viral infection that children often get, and it is harmless, but it can spread to all areas of the body, causing itchy spots to appear, with a small boil in the middle, and groups of them tend to affect the area under the armpits, behind the knees, or in the The groin, and infection can also occur as a result of contact with a sick person or touching contaminated objects, such as towels.
Hand, foot and mouth disease
picture released, Getty Images
This viral infection is caused by coughing and sneezing, as well as by contaminated household items such as cutlery. It can also cause a range of flu-like symptoms, as well as mouth sores and a red rash on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet, and the condition usually improves automatically.
herpes
picture released, Getty Images
This infectious bacteria infects already infected skin, causing red sores and watery, scaly blisters, often on the face.
Although the infection can seem severe, it can be treated with an antibiotic application.
