In a first, man tests positive for Monkeypox, Covid & HIV

CHENNAI: A 36-year-old in Italy has reportedly tested positive for Monkeypox, Covid and HIV simultaneously and is the first known case in medical history.

The patient, whose name hasn't been disclosed, developed fever, a sore throat, fatigue, headache and inflammation of the groin area about nine days after returning from a five-day trip to Spain.

Although the patient received two doses of the Covid vaccine and had already contracted the virus in January, he still tested positive for Covid on July 2 and began developing a rash on his left arm on the same day.

The following day, small, painful vesicles that surrounded a rash appeared on the patient's torso, lower limbs, face and glutes. The vesicles continued to spread on July 5 and developed into pustules, which prompted him to go to a hospital's emergency department, where he was referred to the infectious disease unit for admission.

The man's physical examination revealed spots and skin lesions in various body parts, including the perianal region. A modest enlargement of the liver and spleen and painful enlargement of the lymph nodes too was noticed, according to reports.

His test report sequencing of the SARS-CoV-2 genome confirmed that he was infected with the Omicron sub-variant BA.5.1. He further confirmed the presence of Monkeypox infection and tested positive for HIV as well.

His case was published in the Journal of Infection on August 19. The man was discharged from the hospital after nearly a week as recovered from Covid and Monkeypox. The treatment for his HIV infection has begun.

Researchers said in their case report, "This case highlights how Monkeypox and Covid symptoms may overlap, and corroborates how in case of co-infection, anamnestic collection and sexual habits are crucial to perform the correct diagnosis".