According to a U.S. study published on Wednesday, individuals with severely compromised immune systems, such as HIV-positive ones, can exhibit severe symptoms and even die from a monkeypox infection.

The study examined 57 cases of Americans who were hospitalized due to severe symptoms from monkeypox. Nearly 83% of them had significantly compromised immune systems, most frequently due to HIV infection.

Health experts looked at some of the most severe instances of monkeypox, which is spread by close contact with an infected individual, for the study. Overall, it was found that 47 of these people had HIV infections, but only four of them were undergoing antiretroviral therapy, which uses potent medications to keep the virus under control.

The investigation shows among the 17 patients who required care in an intensive care unit 12 people died, including five deaths where monkeypox was either a probable cause or a contributory factor.

If the patient′s HIV status is unknown, the researchers advised healthcare professionals to screen all sexually active patients with probable monkeypox infections for HIV along with monkeypox testing.

The CDC advised healthcare professionals to begin monkeypox therapy as soon as possible, even before monkeypox infection was confirmed, for patients who test positive for HIV and are suspected of monkeypox infections. The organization suggested that physicians begin HIV treatment at the earliest for those who test positive for the infection.

(Source: https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/those-with-hiv-or-weak-immune-systems-monkeypox-can-be-fatal-us-study-2022-10-26/)