In the first known occurrence, a 36-year-old man in Italy tested positive for Monkeypox, COVID-19, and HIV all at the same time.
According to a report published in the Journal of Infection, the patient had fever, a sore throat, tiredness, headache, and groyne soreness roughly nine days after returning from a five-day trip to Spain. Three days after the symptoms began, the man tested positive for coronavirus.
He also experienced severe skin rashes on his face and other body parts, which were followed by pustules. Given the seriousness of his condition, the guy went to the emergency room of a hospital, where he was referred to the infectious disease unit for hospitalisation.
The man’s physical examination revealed spots and skin lesions in several body areas, including the perianal region, according to reports. There was a slight enlargement of the liver and spleen, as well as a painful expansion of the lymph nodes.
His test results showed the existence of Monkeypox. He also tested HIV positive. Furthermore, analysis of the SARS-CoV-2 genome revealed that he was also infected with the Omicron sub-variant BA.5.1. The man was vaccinated against coronavirus with two doses of Pfizer’s mRNA vaccine, according to the paper.
On August 19, his case was published in the Journal of Infection. After nearly a week in the hospital, the man was released. He recovered from COVID-19 and Monkeypox, but with a minor scar. The treatment for his HIV infection began.
“This case highlights how Monkeypox and COVID-19 symptoms may overlap, and corroborates how in case of co-infection, anamnestic collection and sexual habits are crucial to perform the correct diagnosis,” the researchers wrote in their case report.
“To note, the Monkeypox oropharyngeal swab was still positive after 20 days, suggesting that these individuals may still be contagious for several days after clinical remission. Consequently, physicians should encourage appropriate precautions,” it was added
The researchers also claimed that because this is the first documented instance of Monkeypox virus, COVID-19, and HIV co-infection, there is insufficient data to show that this combination may worsen the patient’s condition.