Mpox Pain Management with Topical Agents: A Case Series

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Neurology
• Dermatology

Background:

• Monkeypox virus (MPXV) outbreaks necessitate efficient disease management strategies.
• Severe pain, often neuropathic in origin, is a significant symptom associated with monkeypox lesions and skin breakdown.
• Existing clinical guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) offer varied recommendations for pain management, lacking a definitive first-line agent.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the challenges in managing severe pain associated with monkeypox.
• To present clinical experiences of patients suffering from monkeypox-related pain.
• To identify potential lessons learned for optimizing pain management in future monkeypox cases.

Main Methods:

• Review of clinical management guidelines from major health organizations (CDC, WHO).
• Case study presentation of two patients with severe monkeypox-associated pain.
• Analysis of pain characteristics and treatment responses.

Main Results:

• Current guidelines suggest a range of analgesics including NSAIDs, acetaminophen, gabapentin, topical agents, tramadol, and opioids.
• No single agent is established as a first-line treatment for monkeypox-related pain.
• Patient experiences underscore the severity and complexity of neuropathic pain in monkeypox.

Conclusions:

• Effective pain management for monkeypox remains an unmet clinical need.
• Further investigation is required to establish evidence-based, first-line treatments for monkeypox-associated pain.
• Clinical insights from patient cases can inform improved management protocols.