• So Yun Lim, Hyeon Jae Jo, Su-Yeon Lee, Miyoung Ahn, Yeonjae Kim, Jaehyun Jeon, Eu Suk Kim, BumSik Chin, Jae-Phil Choi, and Nam Joong Kim.
• Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, National Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
• J. Korean Med. Sci. 2024 Jan 29; 39 (4): e19e19.

BackgroundMpox is a viral illness with a characteristic skin rash caused by the monkeypox virus. In 2022, Mpox spread throughout the world, and an epidemic through domestic transmission started in South Korea in early 2023. This study aimed to summarize the clinical features of Mpox patients in South Korea.MethodsThis is a multicenter retrospective study conducted at four hospitals in South Korea. All adult patients diagnosed with Mpox who were admitted to the study hospitals between June 1, 2022 and May 26, 2023 and were discharged by June 30, 2023 were reviewed.ResultsSixty patients were included, accounting for 65.9% of Mpox cases reported in South Korea during the study period. Median age was 32 years and 97% (58/60) of patients were male. In total, 85% (51/60) of patients reported their sexual orientation as homosexual or bisexual. The most common route of transmission was sexual or close contact (55/60). Every patient had a skin rash and 88% (53/60) had constitutional symptoms. In total, 42% (25/60) of patients had human immunodeficiency virus and 25% (15/60) had concomitant sexually transmitted infections. Severe manifestations of Mpox were identified in only two patients.ConclusionMpox patients in South Korea were mainly young adult males and were infected through sexual contact. The clinical outcomes were favorable.© 2024 The Korean Academy of Medical Sciences.

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