`Tecovirimat’: Anti-smallpox drug found effective in treating monkeypox

Antivirus ‘Tecovirimat’ seems safe and effective for the treatment of symptoms of monkeypox and skin lesions, finding new studies. Tecovirimat (TPOXX) is an antivirus drug approved by the FDA for the treatment of smallpox. This limits the spread of viruses in the body by inhibiting the work of the protein involved in releasing the virus covered. “We have very limited clinical data about the use of Tecovirimat for monkeypox infections. There is a lot to be learned about the natural development of this disease and how Tecovirimat and other antivirus can influence it, “said the main writer Angel Desai of the University of California, Davis.

The recent Global Monkeypox outbreak has caused more than 45,500 cases on August 22, 2022. While symptoms usually heal itself in 2-4 weeks, a recent study shows that 13 percent of patients need inpatients. For new studies, published in the journal JAMA, the team included 25 patients with Monkeypox who were given Tecovirimat therapy.

Patients with skin lesions in some parts of the body or in sensitive areas such as the face or genital area offered oral Tecovirimat treatment. Weight -based treatment, given every 8 or 12 hours, and taken within 30 minutes after eating high in fat. In total, 25 patients with monkeypox infections were confirmed to complete the Tecovirimat therapy course. All men. Their age ranges from 27 and 76 years (the average age is 40). Nine patients suffer from HIV.

Only one patient has a smallpox vaccine (taken more than 25 years ago) and four others receive Jynneos vaccination doses after the symptoms begin. This study found that 92 percent of patients have lesions in their genital or anal area. While all patients have painful lesions, around half have less than 10 lesions throughout their bodies.

On average, patients have symptoms or lesions for 12 days before they begin antivirus treatment. Fever is the most common symptom (76 percent of patients), followed by fatigue (32 percent), sore throat (20 percent), and shivering (20 percent). Other symptoms include back pain (12 percent), muscle pain (8 percent), nausea (4 percent), and diarrhea (4 percent).

All patients completed the therapy of Tecovirimat and tolerate their treatment well. They were treated for two weeks, except for one patient who was treated for 21 days. On the 7th day therapy, 40 percent of patients have recovered from their lesions. On the 21st day, 92 percent have recovered and is free of pain.