Early detection of Mpox by examining oral lesions can help reduce the risk of secondary transmission, disease progression and serious complications such as difficulty swallowing foods or liquids - known as dysphagia.
The National Department of Health confirmed that to date, South Africa has recorded 25 cases of Mpox and three fatalities due to the viral infection. At a recent WHO-Africa CDC Mpox Webinar, University of the Western Cape (UWC) Prof Sudeshni Naidoo - an emeritus professor at UWC and the director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Oral Health - presented the importance of oral lesion examinations in detecting and treating Mpox.
A recent 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis, Monkeypox and oral lesions associated with its occurrence: a systematic review and meta-analysis, reported on 14 selected case studies from a couple of hundred and found that ”oral lesions were among the first clinical signs of Mpox, with ulcers on the dorsal surface of the tongue and the lips being the most common area affected.”
Prof Naidoo referenced the research led by Dr Aravind Gandhi P entitled Oral manifestation of the monkeypox virus: a systematic review and meta-analysis. She said this study included over 4,000 patients from 19 studies conducted between 1988 and 2022 and found that oral and oropharyngeal lesions were prevalent in 36% of Mpox cases. “Interestingly, the prevalence of these lesions varied significantly by region: African studies reported a higher prevalence, ranging from 45% to 75%, compared to less than 40% in studies from America and Europe. This disparity was attributed to factors such as high-risk contact, sexual practices, recreational drug use, and a higher incidence of immunocompromised conditions like HIV in Africa,” she said
The types of oral lesions observed include mouth rashes in nearly 30% of cases and ulcers and sores on the tongue in about 10%. Given the high prevalence of these symptoms, it is crucial for healthcare workers to include oral examinations in their clinical investigations of suspected Mpox cases.
Prof Naidoo said: “Future studies should focus on describing oral lesions associated with high-risk practices and understanding the progression of these lesions throughout the disease. This knowledge will enhance the prognostic validity of oral lesions in Mpox and improve patient outcomes.”
The consensus was that all healthcare professionals must be familiar with the varied oral and oropharyngeal manifestations of Mpox to make timely diagnoses and investigate lesions in the oral cavity (acute-onset oral ulcers) in high-risk patients, especially if they are coupled with other manifestations such as lymphadenopathy.
The National Department of Health confirmed that to date, South Africa has recorded 25 cases of Mpox and three fatalities due to the viral infection. At a recent WHO-Africa CDC Mpox Webinar, University of the Western Cape (UWC) Prof Sudeshni Naidoo - an emeritus professor at UWC and the director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Oral Health - presented the importance of oral lesion examinations in detecting and treating Mpox.
A recent 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis, Monkeypox and oral lesions associated with its occurrence: a systematic review and meta-analysis, reported on 14 selected case studies from a couple of hundred and found that ”oral lesions were among the first clinical signs of Mpox, with ulcers on the dorsal surface of the tongue and the lips being the most common area affected.”
Prof Naidoo referenced the research led by Dr Aravind Gandhi P entitled Oral manifestation of the monkeypox virus: a systematic review and meta-analysis. She said this study included over 4,000 patients from 19 studies conducted between 1988 and 2022 and found that oral and oropharyngeal lesions were prevalent in 36% of Mpox cases. “Interestingly, the prevalence of these lesions varied significantly by region: African studies reported a higher prevalence, ranging from 45% to 75%, compared to less than 40% in studies from America and Europe. This disparity was attributed to factors such as high-risk contact, sexual practices, recreational drug use, and a higher incidence of immunocompromised conditions like HIV in Africa,” she said
The types of oral lesions observed include mouth rashes in nearly 30% of cases and ulcers and sores on the tongue in about 10%. Given the high prevalence of these symptoms, it is crucial for healthcare workers to include oral examinations in their clinical investigations of suspected Mpox cases.
Prof Naidoo said: “Future studies should focus on describing oral lesions associated with high-risk practices and understanding the progression of these lesions throughout the disease. This knowledge will enhance the prognostic validity of oral lesions in Mpox and improve patient outcomes.”
The consensus was that all healthcare professionals must be familiar with the varied oral and oropharyngeal manifestations of Mpox to make timely diagnoses and investigate lesions in the oral cavity (acute-onset oral ulcers) in high-risk patients, especially if they are coupled with other manifestations such as lymphadenopathy.
