Doctor's Notes on Smallpox
Smallpox (also called variola) is a viral illness caused by a poxvirus transmitted from person to person that causes high fever and characteristic rash. About one-third of those infected may die. Due to the success of an intense global public health initiative, smallpox is the only disease that has been completely eradicated worldwide, but it remains a potentially devastating biological weapon.
Symptoms of smallpox infection can take one week to 17 days to appear and may include
- fever,
- chills,
- vomiting,
- body aches,
- headache,
- felling unwell (malaise),
- muscle aches,
- backache, and
- confusion.
About 48-72 hours after the initial smallpox symptoms, a characteristic rash appears and turns into virus-filled sores, which later scab over. These sores may easily be mistaken for chickenpox. Just after the rash appears, the virus is highly contagious. When the scabs heal and fall off a depression or light-skinned scar remains.
What Is the Treatment for Smallpox?
There is no specific treatment for smallpox. If a smallpox outbreak were to occur, public health officials would use the smallpox vaccine to control it.
Some antiviral drugs may help treat smallpox but there is no smallpox treatment that has been tested in people who are sick with the disease and that has proven effective.
Antiviral medications that might be used to treat smallpox include:
- Tecovirimat (TPOXX)
- Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved for treatment of smallpox in case of an outbreak
- Has been shown effective in lab tests and animal tests
- Has been used successfully in the recent monkeypox outbreak
- Cidofovir and brincidofovir
- Not FDA approved to treat the variola virus that causes smallpox but might be used for isolated cases or during an outbreak under an appropriate regulatory mechanism (such as an investigational new drug [IND] protocol or Emergency Use Authorization [EUA])
- Have been shown to stop the growth of the variola virus in lab tests and are effective in treating animals with similar diseases to smallpox
These drugs have not been tested in people sick with smallpox, so it is unknown if a person with smallpox would benefit from treatment with them.
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Biological Warfare
Biological weapons include any organism (such as bacteria, viruses, or fungi) or toxin found in nature that can be used to kill or injure people. Types of biological agents include anthrax, plague, cholera, tularemia, brucellosis, Q fever, smallpox, monkeypox, arboviral encephalitides, viral hemorrhagic fevers (like Marburg and Ebola virus), staphylococcoal enterotoxin B, ricin, botulinum toxin, mycotoxins, glanders, typhus, and anti-crop biological agents. -
Childhood Immunization Schedule and Chart
Vaccinations are some of the most important tools available for preventing disease. Most children get all their shots during childhood. Parents should consult their doctors about which vaccines their children should have and when. Keep track of your children's immunizations yourself. -
Do We Still Vaccinate for Smallpox?
Smallpox is a contagious infectious disease with symptoms such as fever and a distinctive, progressive skin rash. Smallpox has been eradicated and people are no longer vaccinated against the disease. -
Fever in Adults
A fever is a body temperature of 100.4 F or greater. A fever may be caused by a virus, bacteria, fungus, blood clot, tumor, drug, or the environment. Treatment of fever in adults usually involves ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or aspirin. Normal body temperature can vary depending on the individual, the time of day, and even the weather. For most people, a temperature of 98.6 F (Fahrenheit) (37 C or Celsius) is baseline. -
Fever in Children
What are causes, symptoms, and treatment (acetaminophen) of fever in children? Learn when to worry, when a high fever is an emergency, and how to take a rectal temperature. -
Foreign Travel
It is important to plan well in advance when traveling to a foreign country. Travelers should protect (and prepare) themselves from illness by obtaining the appropriate vaccinations and bringing along a traveler's medical kit that contains: prescription medications, first aid supplies, sanitary napkins/tampons (for women), sunscreen, insect repellents, motion sickness medication, pain remedies, cold remedies, and foot care products. -
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is the term that refers to any garment, respirator, or other piece of gear that protects a person from disease, pathogens, or poisons. PPE is important especially for medical professionals and first-responders to emergencies. -
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Test
PCR (polymerase chain reaction) is technique in molecular genetics that analyzes short sequences of DNA or RNA. PCR is used to help doctors diagnose HIV, viruses, and fungi in patients. RT-PCR is a test used to detect and measure RNA -- as of June 2020, this is the standard test to diagnose the presence of the SARS CoV-2 coronavirus responsible for the deadly COVID-19 pandemic. -
Rash
A rash is a visible skin outbreak. Examples of noninfectious rashes include eczema, psoriasis, contact dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis, rosacea, hives, and allergic dermatitis. Types of infectious rashes include ringworm, impetigo, scabies, herpes, chickenpox, and shingles. Rashes may be caused by fungi, viruses, bacteria, and parasites. Treatment depends upon the type of rash. -
Spinal Tap Procedure
A spinal tap is a procedure performed when a doctor needs to look at the cerebrospinal fluid (also known as spinal fluid). Spinal tap is also referred to as a lumbar puncture. Spinal tap risks include headache, herniation, bleeding, and an epidermoid cyst.
REFERENCE:
Kasper, D.L., et al., eds. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 19th Ed. United States: McGraw-Hill Education, 2015.