Monkeypox: Signs, Symptoms, and Real Stories

Mpox causes signs and symptoms which usually begin within a week but can start 1–21 days after exposure. Symptoms typically last 2–4 weeks but may last longer in someone with a weakened immune system.

Common symptoms of mpox are:

*Rash
*Fever
*Sore throat
*Headache
*Muscle aches
*Back pain
*Low energy
*Swollen lymph nodes.

For some people, the first symptom of mpox is a rash, while others may have different symptoms first.

The rash begins as a flat sore which develops into a blister filled with liquid and may be itchy or painful. As the rash heals, the lesions dry up, crust over and fall off.

Some people may have one or a few skin lesions and others have hundreds or more. These can appear anywhere on the body such as the:

*Palms of hands and soles of feet
*Face, mouth and throat
*Groin and genital areas
*Anus.
Some people also have painful swelling of their rectum or pain and difficulty when peeing.

People with mpox are infectious and can pass the disease on to others until all sores have healed and a new layer of skin has formed.