Man Diagnosed With HIV, COVID-19, And Monkeypox All At Once

The three viral diseases coexisted in this person for the first time ever, according to the Journal of Infection.
The Journal of Infection has reported that an Italian man has been diagnosed with HIV, Covid-19, and monkeypox at the same time.

This is the first known instance of the concomitance of these three viral diseases.

The 36-year-old man spent five days in Spain in June of this year, according to an article published by the medical journal last Friday.

Nine days later, he began experiencing fever, sore throat, fatigue, and headaches. Covid-19 tested positive in a subsequent test.

To make matters worse, a rash developed on the patient’s left arm shortly after, and in the days that followed, tiny, painful vesicles spread throughout the man’s body.

The man sought medical help and was hospitalized in an infectious diseases unit. The patient told doctors that he had had “condomless intercourse with men” during his sojourn in Spain.

Taking into account the appearance of pustules indicative of monkeypox, samples of the liquid contained in the vesicles were sent to be tested for the virus and came back positive as well.

Subsequent tests were carried out to check if the individual was infected with viral hepatitis, herpes simplex, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and lymphogranuloma venereum.

None of these sexually transmitted diseases were identified. However, an HIV-1 test did come back positive.

Despite the combination of the dangerous diseases, the treatment administered by Italian doctors saw the patient recover relatively quickly, with visible signs of monkeypox disappearing almost completely within ten days.

The doctors noted that, given the scarcity of evidence, it is hard to tell at this point if this combination of viruses necessarily aggravates a patient’s condition.

The article points out that, given the rapid spread of monkeypox and the continuing Covid-19 pandemic, doctors worldwide should be aware of how the symptoms of these two diseases can overlap and co-exist.

The authors also stressed that medical professionals should take note of a patient’s “sexual habits” and travel history.

If someone tests positive for monkeypox, a complete screening for other sexually transmitted infections is recommended, the piece concludes.

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