Mpox Presenting as Proctitis in Men Who Have Sex With Men

Clin Infect Dis. 2023 Feb 8;76(3):528-530. doi: 10.1093/cid/ciac737.

Abstract

In our cohort of 70 patients of men who have sex with men (MSM) with mpox, more than one-third presented with proctitis. In two-thirds of proctitis patients, there was no typical rash upon presentation, and in one-fifth, there was no rash at all, making the diagnosis a challenge. A rectal swab for mpox polymerase chain reaction (PCR) can be diagnostic.

Keywords: mpox; proctitis; rectal swab; sexually transmitted infection.

MeSH terms

  • Homosexuality, Male
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mpox (monkeypox)* / diagnosis
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Proctitis* / diagnosis
  • Sexual and Gender Minorities*