58% of patients affected by 2022 mpox outbreak report lasting physical symptoms

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A cohort study of over 300 adults either diagnosed with mpox between May 2022 to January 2023 (post-MPX) or who were at risk but never infected (no-MPX) found that more than half of those diagnosed with mpox during the 2022 outbreak still had lingering physical effects 11 to 18 months later. Most reported appearance-related changes, and some continued to experience anorectal or urinary problems. The study is published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Columbia University Division of Infectious Diseases, and University of Texas Health Science Center Houston sought to understand the long-term psychosocial and behavioral impact between at-risk persons who had or did not have mpox during the 2022 mpox outbreak.

The researchers recruited post-MPX and no-MPX participants from health centers in New York City, NY and Houston, TX to complete psychosocial and behavioral self-assessments followed by a clinical evaluation among the post-MPX group.

The study found that 58% of those infected had at least one persistent symptom. Among post-MPX participants with appearance-related sequelae, the extent of sequelae was relatively low, with most having fewer than 10 scars or sites of discoloration and two or fewer body sites involved.

Some 13% of post-MPX participants experienced ongoing physical function changes, and 2% had their activities of daily living affected. The findings provide context into the enduring physical and psychosocial effects that may occur because of mpox.

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