Monkeypox and Hand-Foot-Mouth Disease Outbreak in India: A Double Trouble?

Amidst the coronavirus disease pandemic, the recent concurrent Hand-Foot-Mouth Disease and monkeypox outbreak in India has been a major cause of public health concern. Currently, more than eighty-two children below the age of 5 years have been infected with Hand-Foot-Mouth Disease and ten confirmed cases and eight suspected cases of monkeypox have been identified in India. Hand-Foot-Mouth Disease or tomato fever is a viral infection commonly caused by coxsackievirus A16 and enterovirus A71. Monkeypox virus, belonging to the Poxviridae family, is the causative agent for monkeypox. Since both Hand-Foot-Mouth Disease and monkeypox are viral diseases having similar signs and symptoms, it is difficult to distinguish between the two clinically. Improper diagnosis will lead to incorrect treatment of the disease, thus adding the burden of the disease on society. It is, therefore, imperative to distinguish the two disease entities, to ensure that an accurate diagnosis is made and prompt management is initiated. The Government needs to standardize the treatment protocol and issue appropriate guidelines to curb the further outbreak of these infections in the country.