Could Your Rash Be a Mpox Rash? Here's How You’ll Know (2024)

Stage 1: Macules

Discolored portions of the skin that are flat (macules) are often the first stage of an Mpox lesion. An enanthem or enanthema, or a rash on the mucous membrane of the mouth, can sometimes form before this stage. Macules can last up to two days.

Stage 2: Papules

The macules will begin to rise and turn into papules. This stage can also last up to two days.

Stage 3: Vesicles

The lesions will fill with a clear fluid once they have turned into papules. This signifies the vesicular stage of the Mpox lesions.

It's at this stage in which the lesions resemble blisters. Lesions can stay in the vesicular stage for up to two days.

Stage 4: Pustules

The lesions have reached the pustular stage once the clear fluid inside the vesicles turns opaque.

The pustules are typically round and hard to the touch. These pustules will go through umbilication at some point. The dome shape will become depressed in the middle during umbilication.

This stage can last for five to seven days before the lesions begin to crust over.

Stage 5: Scabs

The lesions will eventually scab over. Scabs can stick around for about a week or up to 14 days before completely resolving. Some pitting or skin discoloration may linger.

The person is no longer considered contagious once the scab finally falls off.

Diagnosis

A healthcare provider will use a clinical evaluation and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing to confirm if you have Mpox. They will examine your body for lesions, which tend to appear and go through stages together.

This can happen on any part of the body, such as the:

• Chest
• Face or mouth
• Feet
• Genital area (i.e., anus, labia, vagin*, penis, or testicl*s)
• Hands

Mpox vs. Other Bumps

How the sores look throughout the infection may make it a bit challenging to identify Mpox correctly. Other conditions or infections can have a similar presentation, such as:

• Bacterial skin infections
• Chickenpox
• Measles
• Medication-associated allergies
• Pimples or blisters
• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), such as herpes or syphilis
• Scabies
• Smallpox

On average, Mpox symptoms, including a rash, usually develop within a week of exposure. A rash can last two to four weeks, but people with a weak immune system might have a rash that lasts longer than four weeks.

Other Symptoms

Lesions may be the telltale sign of Mpox, but the infection comes with other symptoms. Flu-like symptoms may appear before or after the rash, but not everyone experiences them.

These symptoms can include:

• Backache, headache, or muscle aches
• Cough
• Fatigue
• Fever and chills
• Runny nose
• Sore throat
• Swollen lymph nodes

Always speak with a healthcare provider if you believe you have had Mpox exposure or developed symptoms of the infection. It's also essential to see a healthcare provider for unexplained rashes.

Seek medical attention if you've been diagnosed with Mpox and:

• Experience dehydration, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting
• Have an infected rash
• Notice the rash has spread to your anus, eyes, genitals, or mouth
• See no symptom improvement
  

A Quick Review

Mpox is an infection with lesions that progress from flat, discolored spots to lesions with scabs. These lesions can appear on areas of the body like the chest, hands, and feet.

It may be hard to determine if you have Mpox since other conditions can look similar, and flu-like symptoms only occasionally accompany the infection. Seeing a healthcare provider can help diagnose Mpox and get treatment for any symptoms.