Table 1. Comparison of smallpox, chickenpox, and monkeypox .
dsDNA : double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid
| Characteristics | Monkeypox | Smallpox | Chickenpox |
| Causative agent | Monkeypox virus, (dsDNA virus, Family: Poxviridae) | Variola virus, (dsDNA , Family: Poxviridae ) | Varicella-zoster virus (dsDNA, Family: Poxviridae) |
| Animal reservoir | Yes | No | No |
| Mode of transmission | Contact with exotic animals in endemic regions; contact with infected humans | Droplet | Droplet |
| Asymptomatic infections | |||
| Reactivation | No | No | Yes (herpes zoster) |
| Protection with smallpox vaccine | Partial | Yes | No |
| Vaccine availability | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Incubation period | 5-21 days | 10-14 days | 14-16 days |
| Prodromal fever | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Lymphadenopathy | Yes (submandibular, cervical, and sublingual region) | No | No |
| Involvement of body | Centrifugal (80%) or centripetal (20%) | Centrifugal | Centripetal |
| Depth of lesions | Superficial | Deep | Superficial |
| Evolution of lesions | Monomorphic (80%), pleomorphic (20%) | Monomorphic | Pleomorphic |
| Involvement of palm | Yes | Yes | No |