Supportive care and dermatologic management of Mpox

The 2022 global Mpox outbreak was characterised by prominent cutaneous and mucocutaneous findings, often with significant associated pain, that posed unique challenges for clinicians. To date, there are no known effective treatments that reduce time to lesion resolution.

Although clade IIb Mpox is generally milder than endemic forms, this outbreak was notable for localized lesions to head, genital or perianal skin as a result of direct inoculation, often with co-infection of other sexually transmitted infections. Bacterial superinfection is among the most common complications of Mpox infection, and can increase the risk of long-term scarring. Complications and more severe illness are more frequent in patients with advanced HIV and low CD4 +  T cell count.

Excellent supportive care for the diverse cutaneous lesions of Mpox is critical to reduce the risk of complications and long-term sequelae of infection. The identification of therapeutics that lead to rapid lesion resolution and reduce local pain and inflammation associated with infection could further improve outcomes.