TITLE:
Prevention Treatment and Management Strategies for Monkeypox Virus Infection in Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women: A Systematic Review
AUTHORS:
Mahafuza Akter Eva, Md. Arafat Rahman Ovi, Mst. Sanjida Akhter, Rehnuma Tanjin, Rupa Akter, Mst. Mabiya Sultana Samapti, Runa Masuma, Md. Ataur Rahman
KEYWORDS:
Prevention, Treatment, Management, Monkeypox Infection, Pregnant Women, Breastfeeding Women
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Infectious Diseases,
Vol.15 No.1,
February
24,
2025
ABSTRACT: Background: Monkeypox (Mpox) is an infectious disease caused by the virus, which has become a global concern in recent years. As a result of its outbreak, the World Health Organization (WHO) has twice declared monkeypox a global emergency, in June 2022 and on 14 August 2024. In cases of such diseases, pregnant and breastfeeding women are typically considered a sensitive or high-risk group; however, very few studies have been published on that group. Objective: This review aims to evaluate the risks of monkeypox virus infection in pregnant and breastfeeding women, assessing prevention strategies, safety measures, treatment options, and management protocols. Methods: we systematically searched for desired data in PubMed, ScienceDirect, Wiley Online, Scilit, and Google Scholar from 2009 to 2024. After removing duplicates, the search yielded 2031 results, of which 49 full-text papers were assessed for eligibility. From these, 32 studies were included in the final analysis. Results: It has been established that Mpox infection contributes to adverse maternal outcomes and complications such as miscarriage, fetal death, congenital Mpox, etc. This review noted that although there are some accessible guidelines for the treatment of Mpox in general, there is a severe lack of comprehensive protocols for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. This article covers precautions such as vaccination and isolation, available therapies like tecovirimat, and guidelines on fetal monitoring. Conclusion: Finally, this paper proposes an integrated defense and treatment system for monkeypox prevention in pregnant and breastfeeding women, potentially aiding in determining prevalence and contributing to the third number goal of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG).