infections
Mpox (Monkeypox)
Symptoms of Mpox
Mpox causes symptoms that are similar to those of Smallpox . As in smallpox, the mpox rash begins as flat, red spots. The spots then turn into blisters, which fill with pus (forming pustules). After several days, the pustules crust over. Prior to the 2022 outbreak, the rash would often begin on the face and spread to other parts of the body, including the palms and soles. During the 2022 global outbreak, however, the rash often starts on or near the genitals or in the mouth, is often painful, and may not spread or progress through the typical stages. Symptoms may also include fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, backache, extreme fatigue, and prominent swollen lymph nodes. These symptoms may occur before, during, or after the rash appears. Mpox can make people more likely to develop other infections. Some people with mpox develop bacterial infections in the skin and lungs. The illness is usually milder than smallpox, but it can cause death. No deaths occurred during the 2003 outbreak in the United States. In the 2022 outbreak, there have been a few deaths among thousands of cases. Symptoms may start 1 to 2 weeks after a person gets infected, but it can take as long as 3 weeks for symptoms to appear. People are infectious (meaning they can spread the virus to someone else) from the time symptoms start until all lesions have crusted and scabs have fallen off to reveal healthy skin. This typically takes 2 to 4 weeks. The rash of mpox resembles that of smallpox. Prior to the 2022 outbreak, the rash would often begin on the face and spread to other parts of the body, including the palms and soles. Skin lesions on any part of the body were similar and clustered together. In the 2022 global outbreak, the rash often starts on or near the genitals or in the mouth, is often painful, and may not spread or progress through the typical stages. Image courtesy of the Public Health Image Library of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The rash of mpox resembles that of smallpox. Prior to the 2022 outbreak, the rash would often begin on the face and spread to other parts of the body, including the palms and soles. Skin lesions on any part of the body were similar and clustered together. In the 2022 global outbreak, the rash often starts on or near the genitals or in the mouth, is often painful, and may not spread or progress through the typical stages. Image from U.K. Health Security Agency. The rash of mpox resembles that of smallpox. Prior to the 2022 outbreak, the rash would often begin on the face and spread to other parts of the body, including the palms and soles. Skin lesions on any part of the body were similar and clustered together. In the 2022 global outbreak, the rash often starts on or near the genitals or in the mouth, is often painful, and may not spread or progress through the typical stages. Image from U.K. Health Security Agency. The rash of mpox resembles that of smallpox. Prior to the 2022 outbreak, the rash would often begin on the face and spread to other parts of the body, including the palms and soles. Skin lesions on any part of the body were similar and clustered together. In the 2022 global outbreak, the rash often starts on or near the genitals or in the mouth, is often painful, and may not spread or progress through the typical stages. Image from U.K. Health Security Agency. The rash of mpox resembles that of smallpox. Prior to the 2022 outbreak, the rash would often begin on the face and spread to other parts of the body, including the palms and soles. Skin lesions on any part of the body were similar and clustered together. In the 2022 global outbreak, the rash often starts on or near the genitals or in the mouth, is often painful, and may not spread or progress through the typical stages. Image from U.K. Health Security Agency. The rash of mpox resembles that of smallpox. Prior to the 2022 outbreak, the rash would often begin on the face and spread to other parts of the body, including the palms and soles. Skin lesions on any part of the body were similar and clustered together. In the 2022 global outbreak, the rash often starts on or near the genitals or in the mouth, is often painful, and may not spread or progress through the typical stages. Image from NHS England High Consequence Infectious Disease Network. The rash of mpox resembles that of smallpox. Prior to the 2022 outbreak, the rash would often begin on the face and spread to other parts of the body, including the palms and soles. Skin lesions on any part of the body were similar and clustered together. In the 2022 global outbreak, the rash often starts on or near the genitals or in the mouth, is often painful, and may not spread or progress through the typical stages. Image from NHS England High Consequence Infectious Disease Network. The rash of mpox resembles that of smallpox. Prior to the 2022 outbreak, the rash would often begin on the face and spread to other parts of the body, including the palms and soles. Skin lesions on any part of the body were similar and clustered together. In the 2022 global outbreak, the rash often starts on or near the genitals or in the mouth, is often painful, and may not spread or progress through the typical stages. RICHARD USATINE MD / SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY 