Paraphimosis as a complication of monkeypox infection

Abstract

We discuss a case report of a 38-year-old uncircumcised male on pre-exposure prophylaxis for human immunodeficiency virus who presents to the emergency department for painful lesions over his penile region following unprotected sexual intercourse. Following the development of these lesions he developed painless, itchy pustules over his bilateral arms and back. He also had extensive pain and swelling over his penile region, which prevented him from unretracting his foreskin. Chlamydia trachomatis, Herpes simplex virus, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and syphilis tests were negative. He was positive for orthopoxvirus using polymerase chain reaction. A diagnosis of paraphimosis as a complication of monkeypox infection was made.

Persistent morbidity in Clade IIb mpox patients: interim results of a long-term follow-up study, Belgium, June to November 2022

“…Most infections were mild, with only 6% of cases requiring hospitalisation and only five recorded deaths out of 25,506 cases detected in the European Union region up to January 2023 [3]. Nevertheless, acute complications like bacterial superinfection, proctitis, penile oedema, urinary retention and paraphimosis were common [1,2,4,5] and severe manifestations were reported, especially among immunocompromised patients [6,7]. Moreover, the later consequences of the disease remain unknown.…”