[Question #13110] Mpox

2 months ago

Hello and hope all is well. Always appreciate your opinions. I had a male on male nude massage about 9 days ago. No sex at all but frontage and mutual JO. I have developed a rash on both of my calves and slightly less red on chest. It appears to be heat or sun rash but I have concerns. Mpox is not bad in my area about one a month to date. I have a few questions.

What are are my odds in your opinion and how concerned should I be?

I’ve also heard it can be on bedding etc. i had a friend sleep over last Saturday and we slept in same bed. No contact or sex of any kind. Would you be concerned for him?

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

2 months ago

Welcome back -- but I really cannot help very much.

We cannot diagnose anything and do not try to do so. But I can say that Mpox is an exceedingly unlikely cause of a skin problem that looks like a "sun rash". "Mpox is not bad in my area" implies that few cases are being seen; if that is true, your risk is correspondingly lower -- but you should be able to get more detailed information from your local or state health department.

It seems very unlikely your sleepover friend had Mpox at the time or that a shared bed (without sex) put you at risk. Therefore, the answer is no: I would not he concerned.

I hope these comments are helpful. Let me know if anything isn't clear.

HHH, MD

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2 months ago

Thanks. To clarify I was more concerned for my friend getting it from bedding if i had it.

H. Hunter Handsfield, MD

2 months ago

Sex itself is the main risk for Mpox, not contact with clothing, bedding, etc. Nine days without symptoms is fair evidence you weren't infected. It can take up to 21 days but that's rare. If somehow I were in your situation, I wouldn't be worried. For still further reassurance, why not contact your shared bed buddy? If he has no evidence of infection, you can consider yourself home free.---