TY - JOUR
T1 - Clinical characteristics of patients with mpox infection in the United Arab Emirates
T2 - a prospective cohort study
AU - Alhammadi, Omar Abdelrahman
AU - Al Hammadi, Ahmed
AU - Ganesan, Subhashini
AU - AlKaabi, Nawal
AU - Al Harbi, Mariam Saleh
AU - Kamour, Ashraf Mohamed
AU - Mansour, Mohamad
AU - Pereira, Ray
AU - Almarzouqi, Abdulla
AU - Cantarutti, Flavia Martinez
AU - Al Hosani, Farida
AU - Ibrahim, Halah
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 The Author(s)
PY - 2023/9
Y1 - 2023/9
N2 - Objectives: The study aims to explore the risk factors, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of mpox infection in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted at two communicable disease centers in Abu Dhabi, UAE and patients admitted with confirmed mpox infections between May 01, 2022 and December 31, 2022 were included in our study. Results: A total of 176 mpox patients were admitted, of which 93% (n = 164) were men and mean age was 30.4 ± 7 years. Individuals presented with mucocutaneous lesions, most commonly on the genital and anal regions (n = 157; 89%). Only 70 (39.8%) gave a history of sexual exposure. The most common systemic symptoms reported were fever (n = 91; 52%), exanthema (n = 92; 52%), and inguinal lymphadenopathy (n = 60; 34%). Median timeframe from systemic symptoms to appearance of lesions was 4 days (interquartile range 4-6 days). Complications were observed in seven (4%) participants; two (1.1%) individuals developed conjunctivitis, four (2.3%) patients developed penile edema, and one (0.6%) case of myocarditis was reported. In 60% (n = 106) of patients, a potential source of sexual exposure was not identified. Conclusion: The clinical characteristics of mpox cases in the UAE are similar to those in other countries. However, cultural and religious factors likely prevent patient disclosure of sexual exposure and symptoms, contributing to the limited information about the disease in the Middle East.
AB - Objectives: The study aims to explore the risk factors, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of mpox infection in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted at two communicable disease centers in Abu Dhabi, UAE and patients admitted with confirmed mpox infections between May 01, 2022 and December 31, 2022 were included in our study. Results: A total of 176 mpox patients were admitted, of which 93% (n = 164) were men and mean age was 30.4 ± 7 years. Individuals presented with mucocutaneous lesions, most commonly on the genital and anal regions (n = 157; 89%). Only 70 (39.8%) gave a history of sexual exposure. The most common systemic symptoms reported were fever (n = 91; 52%), exanthema (n = 92; 52%), and inguinal lymphadenopathy (n = 60; 34%). Median timeframe from systemic symptoms to appearance of lesions was 4 days (interquartile range 4-6 days). Complications were observed in seven (4%) participants; two (1.1%) individuals developed conjunctivitis, four (2.3%) patients developed penile edema, and one (0.6%) case of myocarditis was reported. In 60% (n = 106) of patients, a potential source of sexual exposure was not identified. Conclusion: The clinical characteristics of mpox cases in the UAE are similar to those in other countries. However, cultural and religious factors likely prevent patient disclosure of sexual exposure and symptoms, contributing to the limited information about the disease in the Middle East.
KW - Communicable disease
KW - Infectious disease
KW - Monkeypox
KW - Mpox
KW - Sexually transmitted infection
KW - United Arab Emirates
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85165047222
U2 - 10.1016/j.ijid.2023.06.023
DO - 10.1016/j.ijid.2023.06.023
M3 - Article
C2 - 37455238
AN - SCOPUS:85165047222
SN - 1201-9712
VL - 134
SP - 303
EP - 306
JO - International Journal of Infectious Diseases
JF - International Journal of Infectious Diseases
ER -
