Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a viral illness caused by the monkeypox virus, part of the Orthopoxvirus genus. This disease is characterized by a distinct rash that progresses through several identifiable stages. While mpox typically resolves on its own within a few weeks, understanding its manifestations is helpful for awareness.
Early Signs and Symptoms
Mpox infection often begins with a prodrome, a period where general symptoms appear before the characteristic rash develops. Individuals may experience flu-like symptoms, including fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, and exhaustion.
A distinguishing feature of mpox is the presence of swollen lymph nodes, known as lymphadenopathy. These swollen glands can occur in the neck, armpits, or groin, sometimes on both sides of the body. Symptoms typically emerge within one to twenty-one days after exposure, though often within a week.
Stages of the Mpox Rash
The mpox rash progresses through a series of distinct visual stages. It often begins on the face or inside the mouth, then spreads to other parts of the body, including the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. Lesions can also appear in the genital and anal areas.
The lesions evolve through these stages:
- Macules: Flat, discolored spots.
- Papules: Firm, raised bumps.
- Vesicles: Small blisters filled with clear fluid.
- Pustules: Larger, firm blisters filled with yellowish pus, often with a central indentation (umbilication).
- Scabs: Pustules dry out, crust over, and eventually fall off, revealing new skin.
A notable characteristic of the mpox rash is that all lesions on a particular body area tend to advance through these stages at roughly the same pace, rather than appearing in waves. This entire progression typically takes two to four weeks.
How the Rash Differs From Other Conditions
Distinguishing the mpox rash from other skin conditions requires attention to specific characteristics and overall disease progression. The mpox rash differs from chickenpox in how its lesions develop. Chickenpox lesions often appear in successive waves, meaning various stages of the rash can be present simultaneously. In contrast, mpox lesions on a given body area tend to be in the same stage of development. Additionally, chickenpox lesions rarely affect the palms of the hands and soles of the feet, which are common sites for mpox lesions.
Conditions like herpes and syphilis can also cause skin lesions, particularly in the genital area. However, the widespread distribution of mpox lesions across the body, often including the face, palms, and soles, helps differentiate it. The characteristic progression of mpox lesions through distinct stages, especially the development of deep-seated, often umbilicated pustules, is also a distinguishing factor. The presence of preceding flu-like symptoms and noticeably swollen lymph nodes further aids in differentiating mpox from localized herpes or syphilis lesions, as these systemic symptoms are more consistently associated with mpox.