Monkeypox: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Medically reviewed by Harsha Moole, MD, Internal Medicine. Last reviewed: October 23, 2026.
What kind of doctor treats Monkeypox?
An infectious disease doctor, a doctor who treats illnesses caused by germs, can diagnose and treat monkeypox, which is now also called mpox. A sexual health clinic can also help. A direct primary care or concierge doctor can be a first stop for an evaluation and can refer you to a specialist when needed.
What is monkeypox?
Monkeypox, now often called mpox, is an illness caused by the monkeypox virus. This virus is in the same family of viruses as the smallpox virus. Mpox can cause a painful rash, swollen lymph nodes (also called swollen glands), fever, headache, muscle aches, and low energy. Most people fully recover, but some get very sick.
There are two types of the virus, called clade I and clade II. Clade I is found regularly in Central and Eastern Africa and causes more severe illness and deaths than clade II.
Symptoms
Symptoms usually start within 3 weeks after you are exposed to the virus. Signs can include:
- A rash with sores that can look like pimples or blisters, which can appear on the face, inside the mouth, and on the hands, feet, chest, genitals, or anus.
- Fever and chills.
- Swollen lymph nodes.
- Exhaustion, headache, muscle aches, and backache.
- Sore throat, stuffy nose, or cough.
The rash goes through stages, including scabs, before it heals, which can take 2 to 4 weeks.
Causes and who gets it
Mpox mainly spreads through close contact with someone who has it. This includes touching their rash, scabs, or body fluids. It also includes breathing in the virus during long face-to-face contact. Intimate contact, such as kissing, cuddling, hugging, massage, or sex, can spread it too. It can also spread by touching clothes, bedding, or towels used by someone who has the virus. During pregnancy, the virus can pass from the mother to the fetus. People can also catch it from infected animals, for example through a scratch or bite, or by preparing or eating meat from the animal.
Someone with mpox can spread it from the time symptoms start until the rash has healed, all scabs have fallen off, and a new layer of skin has formed. Some people can spread it 1 to 4 days before symptoms appear. Children, pregnant people, and people with weak immune systems are at higher risk for serious illness.
How doctors diagnose it
Mpox can look like other illnesses, such as chickenpox, measles, scabies, herpes, or syphilis, so testing matters. Your health care provider will ask about your symptoms and medical history and look at your rash. Your provider will also take a sample of tissue from one of the sores to test for the virus. The preferred lab test is a PCR test, which detects the DNA of the virus.
Treatment
There is no treatment made only for mpox, and many people get better on their own. Care focuses on looking after the rash, managing pain, and preventing complications. To ease symptoms, the World Health Organization suggests:
- Rinsing mouth sores with salt water.
- Taking over-the-counter medicines for pain, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
- Not popping blisters or scratching sores, which can slow healing, spread the rash, and cause sores to become infected.
Antiviral medicines that treat smallpox may also help treat mpox. They may be recommended for people who have severe mpox or are at risk of severe mpox, for example people with weak immune systems, people who are pregnant, and children, especially those under age 1. The World Health Organization said in a 2024 fact sheet that so far no antiviral treatment has been proven effective and that research is continuing. If you have mpox, stay home from the time you have symptoms until the rash has healed and a new layer of skin has formed. A vaccine called JYNNEOS can help prevent mpox, and it is given in two doses 4 weeks apart.
When to see a doctor
Contact your health care provider for advice if you think you may have mpox. This matters most if you have a rash with blisters or sores and you recently had close contact with someone who has symptoms of mpox, or you traveled to an area with mpox in the past 3 weeks. Serious problems can include pneumonia (a lung infection), an eye infection that can cause loss of vision, pain or trouble swallowing, and vomiting and diarrhea that cause dehydration. Call 911 if you have trouble breathing, confusion, loss of vision, pain or trouble swallowing, or vomiting and diarrhea that cause dehydration.
How a direct primary care or concierge doctor fits in
A direct primary care doctor charges a flat monthly fee instead of billing insurance, while a concierge doctor usually charges more and often works alongside insurance. Such a doctor can look at your symptoms, arrange testing, and refer you to an infectious disease doctor or a sexual health clinic when needed.
Common questions
Is monkeypox the same as mpox?
Yes, mpox is the newer name for monkeypox.
How long does monkeypox last?
Most people with mpox recover within 2 to 4 weeks.
Can monkeypox be prevented?
Yes, a vaccine and some simple steps can lower the risk. It also helps to avoid skin-to-skin contact with the mpox rash and to avoid touching the bedding, towels, or clothing of a person who has mpox.
Can monkeypox spread before the rash appears?
Yes. Researchers have found that some people spread mpox 1 to 4 days before symptoms appear, but it is not known how often this happens.
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Medical Disclaimer
This content is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and reading it does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions about a medical condition, and never disregard or delay seeking professional advice because of something you read here. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 (or your local emergency number) immediately.
