BACKGROUND

Mpox, a zoonotic disease identified in central Africa in 1958, is mainly endemic to the Congo basin and West Africa. Collecting demographic and clinical data is crucial for early recognition and differentiation of skin lesions as the Philippines addresses this public health challenge.

OBJECTIVE

We describe the demographics, clinical profile, and outcomes of suspected and confirmed mpox cases in the Philippines from July to November 2022.

METHODS

This case series reviewed suspected and confirmed mpox cases at the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine from July to November 2022. Clinical data, demographics, and outcomes were collected through retrospective chart reviews and summarized using descriptive statistics.

RESULTS

Fifteen cases were reviewed, including 2 confirmed mpox cases, with an average age of 37.8 years and 80% male. The other symptoms associated with rash at presentation included fever (20%) followed by lymphadenopathy, malaise and chills reported in 1 case each. All patients had pustules and erythematous papules, with 67% showing vesicles. Lesions mainly appeared on the extremities (93%), trunk (60%), and head/neck (47%), evolving into crusts within 1–2 days. Non-confirmed cases were often misdiagnosed as varicella (60%), arthropod bites (20%), or folliculitis (7%).

DISCUSSION

Young to middle-aged males with travel histories were common in suspected and confirmed mpox cases. Lesions typically included papules and pustules on the extremities, evolving into crusts and erosions within 1–2 days. Confirmed cases had umbilicated papules and fever, while PCR-negative cases were diagnosed with local skin conditions. Testing is vital for timely detection and management, especially since mpox resembles other conditions.

Human ; Mpox, Monkeypox ; Zoonoses ; Zoonotic Disease

Mammary Paget’s disease (MPD) is a rare form of intraepithelial adenocarcinoma occurring in the apocrine gland-bearing areas in patients older than 50 years old. This clinical disease presents as erythematous, scaly plaque that usually affects the unilateral nipple or areola and is frequently misdiagnosed as inflammatory or infectious dermatitis. In this report, we are presented with a 54-year-old Filipino female who came in with a 3-year history of persistent pruritic erythematous moist plaque on the right nipple gradually spreading to the surrounding areola previously treated as a case of fungal infection. Mammography revealed BI-RADS 4C. Skin punch biopsy showed nuclear atypia with pale staining cytoplasm and were consistent with MPD. Immunohistochemical stains showed positive for epithelial membrane antigen and carcinoembryonic antigen. We reiterate the importance of early diagnosis for appropriate treatment to prevent unwanted sequelae.

Human ; Female ; Middle Aged: 45-64 Yrs Old ; Paget's Disease, Mammary ; Mpd