Mpox: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention – Cleveland Clinic

OverviewWhat is mpox?

Mpox is a rare disease caused by the mpox virus. It leads to rash and flu-like symptoms. Like the better-known virus that causes smallpox, its a member of the family called orthopoxvirus.

Mpox was discovered in 1958 when two outbreaks of a pox-like disease occurred in groups of monkeys being used for research. Its spread mainly through human contact with infected rodents, but can sometimes be spread through skin-to-skin contact with a person who is infected. There are two known types (clades) of mpox virus one that originated in Central Africa and one that originated in West Africa. The current world outbreak (2022) is caused by the less severe West African clade.

Mpox is rare. But the number of cases is increasing in Africa, as well as in regions that havent seen these infections before.

For decades, mpox was mostly been seen in Africa. However, its occasionally found in other countries, including the United States. In the spring of 2003, the first outbreak of mpox outside of Africa occurred in the U.S. A shipment of infected animals from Ghana was imported into Texas. The infected rodents spread the virus to pet prairie dogs, which then infected 47 people in the Midwest.

As international travel becomes more common, viruses that were once fairly confined to certain locations can more easily spread around the world. In the summer of 2021, a case of mpox was found in a U.S. resident who had traveled from Nigeria to the United States. Then, 2022 brought outbreaks to regions outside of Africa, including Europe, the Americas and Australia.

Anyone can get mpox. In Africa, most cases are among children under 15 years old. Outside of Africa, the disease appears to be more common in men who have sex with men, but there are numerous cases in people who dont fall into that category.

After exposure, it may be several days to a few weeks before you develop symptoms. Early signs of mpox include flu-like symptoms, including:

After a few days, a rash often develops. The rash starts as flat, red bumps, which can be painful. Those bumps turn into blisters, which fill with pus. Eventually, the blisters crust over and fall off the whole process can last two weeks to four weeks. You can also get sores in your mouth, vagina or anus.

Not everyone with mpox develops all the symptoms. In fact, in the current (2022) outbreak, many cases arent following the usual pattern of symptoms. This atypical presentation includes only a few lesions, no swollen lymph nodes, less fever and other signs of illness. You can have it and not know it. Even if you dont show many signs of infection, you can spread still spread it to others through prolonged close contact.

Mpox is spread when you come into contact with an animal or a person infected with the virus. Animal-to-person transmission occurs through broken skin, like from bites or scratches, or through direct contact with an infected animals blood, bodily fluids or pox lesions (sores).

Mpox can spread from person to person, but its less common. Person-to-person spread (transmission) occurs when you come in contact with the sores, scabs, respiratory droplets or oral fluids of a person who is infected, usually through close, intimate situations like cuddling, kissing or sex. Research is ongoing, but researchers arent sure if the virus is transmitted through semen or vaginal fluids.

You can also get mpox by coming into contact with recently contaminated materials like clothing, bedding and other linens used by a person who is infected or an infected animal.

Because mpox is rare, a healthcare provider may first suspect other rash illnesses, such as measles or chickenpox. But swollen lymph nodes usually distinguish mpox from other poxes.

To diagnose mpox, your healthcare provider takes a tissue sample from an open sore (lesion). Then, they send it to a lab for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing (genetic fingerprinting). You may also need to give a blood sample to check for the mpox virus or antibodies your immune system makes in defense of it.

Mpox is usually a self-limited disease with symptoms lasting from two weeks to four weeks. Most people with mpox get better on their own without treatment. Following diagnosis, your healthcare provider will monitor your condition and try to relieve your symptoms, prevent dehydration and give you antibiotics to treat secondary bacterial infections if they develop.

Theres not currently an approved antiviral treatment for mpox. Antiviral drugs may help, but they havent been studied as a treatment for mpox. Several investigational antivirals with activity against mpox are available, but only as part of a research study.

A smallpox vaccine provides protection against mpox, but its use is currently limited to clinical trials. Prevention depends on decreasing human contact with infected animals and limiting person-to-person spread. The best way to help prevent the spread of mpox virus is to:

Mpox normally takes about two weeks to four weeks to run its course. If youre exposed to mpox, your provider will monitor you until the rash resolves.

The less severe West African clade is causing the current world outbreak (2022). No one has died from this outbreak to date. But mpox can lead to other problems (complications) like pneumonia and infections in your brain (encephalitis) or eyes, which can be fatal.

If have mpox symptoms, there are over-the-counter medications that can help you feel better, including:

Call your healthcare provider if you:

Seek medical care if you develop the following symptoms:

Although they both cause skin rashes, different viruses cause mpox and chickenpox. Mpox is an orthopoxvirus, while chickenpox is a herpes virus. Both viruses can be spread through skin-to-skin or prolonged face-to-face contact, but chickenpox is very contagious and spreads more easily than mpox. People with mpox are more likely to have swollen lymph nodes than people with chickenpox.

The rashes act differently, too. While the chickenpox rash can appear in waves, mpox sores develop at the same time. Chickenpox symptoms including the rash tend to get better within two weeks, while it takes two weeks to four weeks for mpox to resolve.

Smallpox and mpox are both part of the orthopoxvirus family, so theyre caused by similar but distinct viruses. Thanks to effective vaccines, smallpox was eradicated (is no longer a circulating disease) by 1980. Smallpox was very contagious and spread more easily than mpox. Mpox symptoms are similar to smallpox, but milder.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

The last two years have been incredibly challenging the COVID-19 pandemic changed so much about the way we lived and worked. Now, just as were starting to ease back into regular life, were hearing media stories about mpox as an emerging threat. But mpox is a rare disease. Its spread through close contact, like kissing and sex though were still learning about how mpox spreads in humans. The best way to protect yourself is to avoid contact with people who are infected, wash your hands frequently and wear a face mask in crowded, indoor spaces. Early symptoms of mpox are flu-like and include fever, chills and body aches. After a few days, a rash will begin to develop. See a healthcare provider if you develop symptoms.

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Mpox: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention - Cleveland Clinic