An Epidemiological and Clinical Study of Monkeypox in Changsha, China: A Retrospective Analysis of HIV-Infected and Non-HIV-Infected Patients from June to December 2023.

BACKGROUND

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared Human Monkeypox (mpox) as a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC) in July 2022. Due to border quarantine and isolation measures implemented from January 2020 to December 2022, Beijing did not report its first locally transmitted case of mpox until May 31, 2023, which represented a delayed occurrence compared to other countries. The aim of this observational analysis is to describe demographical data, symptoms presentation and clinical course till outcome of patients diagnosed with monkeypox (mpox) from June to December 2023 at a tertiary level hospital in Changsha, china.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We conducted a retrospective study on 44 confirmed mpox cases and compared laboratory data between HIV-infected and non-HIV-infected patients at a tertiary general hospital in Changsha, China.

RESULTS

All patients were male, with a median age of 33 years. 88.6% patients had sex with men (MSM), and 88.9% HIV-infected patients accepted antiretroviral therapy (ART). The early symptoms of mpox typically include rashes and fever, which usually appear around the penis or anus. There were significant differences were found between HIV-infected and non-HIV-infected patients in laboratory data (P < 0.05), but none were clinically significant.

CONCLUSION

This study underscores the importance of targeted mpox management strategies in MSM populations, particularly those co-infected with HIV and syphilis. Health authorities should consider proactive prevention and control measures, especially given the overlapping epidemics of HIV, syphilis, and mpox. Further studies are needed to explore the long-term clinical outcomes and potential benefits of vaccination in preventing mpox among high-risk populations.