Phototherapies for the management of a large painful facial cutaneous lesion from human monkeypox infection

Survey of pain and stigma experiences in people diagnosed with mpox in Baltimore, Maryland during 2022 global outbreak

“…CDC guidance on pain management recommended acetaminophen, NSAIDs, topical steroids, topical anesthetics, and gabapentin or opioids as necessary, in addition to stool softeners and sitz baths for those with painful proctitis [ 27 ]. Use of topical lidocaine [ 3 , 28 , 29 ], rectal suppositories [ 3 ], oral laxatives [ 3 ], paracetamol [ 3 , 29 ], ibuprofen [ 3 , 28 , 29 ], methimazole [ 28 ], tramadol [ 28 ], opioids [ 3 ], tecovirimat [ 26 ], and photodynamic therapy for cutaneous lesions [ 30 ] have been reported in case reports and series, though without analysis of efficacy. While the utility of tecovirimat for pain and lesion resolution is currently being evaluated in a clinical trial [ 31 ], early indications for its use per the CDC did include “other anatomic areas where monkeypox virus infection might constitute a special hazard (e.g., the genitals or anus)” and “people with immunocompromising conditions (e.g., HIV/AIDS…)” [ 11 ].…”

Oral manifestations of monkeypox and potential tools for their management

“…In the literature, a study performed a computational strategy to investigate the potential of PDT using propoly-benzofuran against monkeypox virus demonstrating that PDT based on this natural photosensitizer can be proposed as an adjuvant treatment against this virus [ 9 ]. Furthermore, in the literature there is a case report of a man with active symptomatic smallpox virus infection with facial skin ulcerative lesions effectively treated with a combination of antimicrobial PDT and photobiomodulation therapy [ 10 ]. In this specific case, 0.01% methylene blue was used activated by a laser light at 660 nm wavelength perpendicularly and in contact mode [ 10 ].…”

“…Furthermore, in the literature there is a case report of a man with active symptomatic smallpox virus infection with facial skin ulcerative lesions effectively treated with a combination of antimicrobial PDT and photobiomodulation therapy [ 10 ]. In this specific case, 0.01% methylene blue was used activated by a laser light at 660 nm wavelength perpendicularly and in contact mode [ 10 ].…”