Mpox in a Neonate: A Case Report of a 14-day-old Baby in Nigeria.

Abstract

Background: Human mpox (HMPX) is a zoonotic infection caused by the Monkeypox Virus (MPXV), with commonly reported routes of transmission being contact with infected wildlife, humans, and fomites. More data is needed to establish the frequency of transmission from asymptomatic carriers and from mother to child.Initially confined to 10 West and Central African countries, mpox assumed a global dimension in 2022. Since its first outbreak in 2017, data from Nigeria have consistently shown that the disease predominantly affects young adults aged 21-40 years, in keeping with long-established epidemiological patterns. However, analysis of the 2024 Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) situation reports indicates a notable upsurge in reported cases among children aged 0-10 years, even though young adults remain the most affected age group overall. However, there is a paucity of data which highlights presentation in the neonatal age group, which is a rare occurrence.Mpox commonly presents with fever, rash and lymphadenopathy. These symptoms may mimic other childhood skin infections like chicken pox and impetigo; thus, a high index of suspicion is needed among health care workers to establish a diagnosis.

Case presentation: This case report discusses the presentation, clinical course, and outcome of a 14-day-old neonate, Baby C, who presented with a fever and rash and became a confirmed case after PCR testing.

Conclusion: This case report underscores the need for heightened clinical vigilance in recognizing mpox in neonates, where the rarity of the disease, absence of clear exposure history, and overlap with common neonatal skin conditions may delay diagnosis. It will also add to the limited literature on neonatal mpox, which is a rare presentation to date.