9 differences between monkeypox and chickenpox you must know about

Some of the monkeypox symptoms are similar to chickenpox such as cold, fever, rash, body ache and fatigue. Here are 9 differences between the two viral infections.

Published on: May 31, 2022 10:29 PM IST

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As monkeypox creates panic after being identified in several countries, it is important to know how the disease spreads. Some of its symptoms are similar to chickenpox like cold, fever, rash, body ache and fatigue. Dr. Subhash Kakkar, ENT Sr. Surgeon founder of Kakkar ENT Clinic (Karol Bagh), visiting consultant with BL Kapur hospital and Apollo Spectra lists the differences between monkeypox and chickenpox as per CDC (USA) guidelines. (Pinterest)

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1. Virus: While monkeypox is caused by the orthopoxvirus, chickenpox is caused by the Varicella-zoster virus which is highly contagious. (Pinterest)

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2. Rash: Monkeypox patient develops rash within 1 to 5 days and it begins on the face and then spreads to other parts of the body. In case of chickenpox, rash appears on the chest, back, and then on the face and entire body. It causes between 250 to 500 itchy blisters. (Pinterest)

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3. Fever: Monkeypox rashes appear 1 to 5 days after the fever while chickenpox rashes appear .1 to 2 days after the fever. (Pinterest, WHO)

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4. Swollen lymph nodes: Monkeypox lymph nodes are swollen while chickenpox lymph nodes are not swollen. (Reuters)

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5. Incubation period of monkeypox is from 5 to 21 days while that of chickenpox lasts from 4 to 7 days. (Reuters)

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6. Transmission: Monkeypox virus enters the body via broken skin, respiratory tract, and mucus membrane while chickenpox virus enters mainly via respiratory tracts. (Reuters)

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7. Prevention: In case of monkeypox, contact must be avoided with the infected person, animal, or any material like the bedding of the infected person while in chickenpox, vaccination must be taken to prevent infection. (Reuters)

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8. Treatment: In monkeypox, no specific treatment is required but a smallpox vaccine can be given to the contacts of the infected person. In chickenpox, symptomatic treatment is given but chicken-vaccine are safe and effective. (Pinterest)

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9. Symptoms: The symptoms of monkeypox and chickenpox are almost similar such as cold, fever, body ache, muscle ache, and fatigue where both lead to a widely disseminated rashes. (Pinterest)