What to Do If You Have Mpox: A Detailed Self-Care Guide

Mpox is a contagious illness caused by a virus. Although most cases are not severe, caring for yourself properly is important, both to ease your symptoms and to prevent spreading the virus. The following are ways to care for yourself when you have mpox, so you can get the right care.

Self-care when you have mpox: Get enough rest

Rest is an important part of self-care when you have mpox and helps your body recover. Your immune system needs energy to fight the virus, so getting enough sleep and rest is very important.

• Sleep at least 8-10 hours a day: Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day to build a healthy sleep routine. If you have trouble sleeping, try relaxation techniques such as listening to soft music or meditating before bed.
• Avoid strenuous activities: Even if you feel better, intense exercise or heavy work may slow your recovery. Focus on rest and light activities such as walking slowly around the house or gentle stretching.
• Set up a comfortable environment for rest: Create an atmosphere that helps you rest. Keep the room at a cool, comfortable temperature (about 18-22 degrees Celsius), use blackout curtains to control the light, and reduce disturbances with an air purifier or fan to create white noise that masks outside sounds.

Drink plenty of fluids

Staying hydrated is very important when you have mpox, because fever and skin lesions can cause significant fluid loss. Drinking plenty of fluids helps prevent dehydration and supports your immune system.

• Drink at least 8-10 glasses of water a day: Try to drink regularly throughout the day, even if you don't feel thirsty. Set a reminder on your phone or keep a water bottle nearby to prompt you to drink often.
• Watch the color of your urine; it should be pale and clear: The color of your urine is a good indicator of your hydration level. It should be pale yellow or clear. If it is dark or has a strong odor, you may not be drinking enough, so increase your fluid intake right away.
• Drink beverages with electrolytes: In addition to plain water, drinks that contain electrolytes help replace minerals lost through fever or heavy sweating. Coconut water is a good option because it is high in potassium, or you can choose an electrolyte drink from a pharmacy. Avoid drinks that are high in sugar.

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Eat nutritious foods

Nutrient-rich foods help strengthen your immune system and support your body's recovery. Even if you don't feel very hungry, eating nutritious food is important.

• Focus on fruits and vegetables high in vitamin C: Vitamin C helps strengthen the immune system and supports the production of collagen, which is essential for wound healing. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables high in vitamin C, such as oranges, kiwi, bell peppers, broccoli, strawberries, and papaya. Try to eat a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables to get a wide range of vitamins and minerals.
• Eat protein: Protein is essential for repairing tissue and building immunity. Choose easily digestible protein sources such as fish (especially fish high in omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon), baked or boiled chicken, boiled eggs, and plain yogurt. If you are vegetarian, focus on dried beans and tofu.
• Add foods rich in zinc: Zinc plays an important role in immune function. Good sources of zinc include pumpkin seeds, nuts (especially peanuts), sunflower seeds, and whole grains.
• Avoid spicy, fried, and processed foods: These foods can put too much strain on your digestive system and do not support your recovery.

Self-care when you have mpox: Isolate from others

Stay in a separate room until your lesions have dried and the scabs have fallen off.

• The isolation period is generally about 2-4 weeks, depending on the severity of the illness.
• Contact your doctor to assess when you can end isolation.
• Even after the lesions have dried, continue to be careful about close contact with others for a while.

Use a separate bathroom if possible.

• If you have to share a bathroom, clean it every time after you use it.
• Use disinfectant to wipe frequently touched areas, such as door handles and faucets.
• Use your own towel and bathing items, and do not share them with others.

Do not share personal items with others.

• Keep your own plates, bowls, spoons, forks, and cups for personal use.
• Do not share towels, toothbrushes, combs, or other items with others.
• Wash your personal items with hot water and soap after every use.

Self-care when you have mpox: Care for the skin where you have lesions

Proper care of the skin where you have lesions is very important when treating mpox, since the main symptoms are a rash and blisters on the skin. Good care helps reduce the risk of secondary infection and helps the lesions heal faster.

• Clean the lesions with clean water or saline: Wash your hands with soap and water before cleaning the lesions each time. Use clean water or saline to gently clean them 2-3 times a day, or as advised by your doctor. Avoid harsh soaps or disinfectants that may irritate the skin. After cleaning, pat the area dry with a clean cloth or soft tissue.
• Apply medication as prescribed by your doctor: Apply the type and amount of medication your doctor prescribes exactly as directed; this is usually an antiviral or a topical antibiotic. Apply a thin layer over the whole lesion area using a cotton swab or clean gloves. Be careful not to apply too much, as this can macerate the lesion and increase the risk of infection.
• Do not pick or squeeze the fluid-filled blisters or lesions: Picking or squeezing them can cause infection and scarring. If you feel itchy, ask your doctor for something to relieve the itching, such as calamine lotion or an oral antihistamine.
• Wear loose-fitting clothing: Choose clothes made of cotton or other breathable fabric. Wear loose-fitting clothes so they don't rub against the lesions.
• Change your bed linens and clothing often: Change your sheets and pillowcases every day, or whenever they get dirty. Wash bedding in hot water with detergent to kill germs. Use a mild fabric softener that is gentle on the skin to reduce irritation.

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Take your medication exactly as prescribed

• If you are given antiviral medication, take the full course as directed.
• Antiviral medication may help reduce the severity of the illness and how long you are sick.
• Tell your doctor right away if you have an allergic reaction or severe side effects.
• Use a pill organizer or a medication reminder app.
• Do not stop your medication on your own, even if you feel better; complete the full course as prescribed by your doctor.

Contact your doctor immediately if you have any of the following symptoms

• Fever over 39°C
• Difficulty breathing or chest pain
• Lesions with pus or with severe swelling and redness
• Severe headache
• Vomiting or severe diarrhea
• Neurological symptoms

Read related articles

• Mpox | Know it, prevent it
• News about Mpox (Monkeypox) in Thailand and around the world

Caring for yourself properly and completely will help you recover faster and reduce the risk of spreading the infection to others. Remember that following your doctor's advice closely is the most important thing of all.

Verified references

Links and relevance to the article’s main topic were reviewed on 13 August 2026. Each source supports only the scope stated in the original document and does not replace personalised medical, legal, or service advice.

1. WHO: Mpox fact sheet Accessed 13 August 2026
2. CDC: About Mpox Accessed 13 August 2026