Signs and Symptoms of Mpox

At a glance

  • People with mpox often get a rash and may have other symptoms like fever, chills, and swollen lymph nodes.
  • Symptoms usually start within 21 days of exposure.
  • Visit a healthcare provider if you have a new or unexplained rash, especially after contact with someone who has mpox.

Symptoms

People with mpox often get a rash that may be located on hands, feet, chest, face, or mouth or near the genitals, including penis, testicles, labia, and vagina, and anus. The incubation period is 3–17 days. During this time, a person does not have symptoms and may feel fine.

  • The rash will go through several stages, including scabs, before healing.
  • The rash can initially look like pimples or blisters and may be painful or itchy.

Mpox rash photos‎

See photos of different types of mpox rashes.

Other symptoms of mpox can include

  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Exhaustion
  • Muscle aches and backache
  • Headache
  • Respiratory symptoms (e.g., sore throat, nasal congestion, or cough)

You may experience all or only a few symptoms.

Health Care Providers: Clinical Features of Mpox

How long symptoms last

Typically, mpox symptoms start within 21 days of exposure to the virus. If you have flu-like symptoms, you will likely develop a rash 1–4 days later. If you have symptoms, such as a rash, visit a healthcare provider.

A person with mpox can spread it to others from the time symptoms start until the rash has fully healed and a fresh layer of skin has formed.

New data show that some people can spread mpox to others from one to four days before their symptoms appear. It's not clear how many people this has affected during the ongoing global outbreak that began in 2022. There is currently no evidence showing that people who never have symptoms have spread the virus to someone else. CDC will continue to monitor the latest information about how mpox spreads.

When to talk to your doctor

If you have a new or unexplained rash or have other mpox symptoms, especially after potential exposure:

  • Visit a healthcare provider. If you think you have mpox or have had close personal contact with someone who has mpox, visit a healthcare provider to help them decide if you need to be tested for mpox. If you don't have a provider or health insurance, visit a public health clinic near you.
  • Get tested if recommended. If your healthcare provider decides that you should be tested, they will collect the specimens and send them to a laboratory for testing.
  • Avoid close contact. Until you have talked to your healthcare provider, avoid close contact, including sex or being intimate with anyone.
  • Wear a mask. When you see a healthcare provider, wear a mask.
Keep Reading: What to Do If You Are Sick
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Content Source:
National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID)