Mumps

Definition• Mumps is a disease caused by mumps

virus (an RNA virus of the paramoxyvirus) and can infect many parts of the body, especially the parotid salivary glands.

Signs and Symptoms• Fever• Headache• Loss of appetite• Parotitis (parotid inflammation) • Other symptoms: testicular pain (in

males), abdominal pain, seizures, stiff neck, and difficulty swallowing. 

• Orchitis (severe pain, swelling, and tenderness in a male's testicles)

Complications• Brain inflammation (encephalitis or

meningitis)• Hearing loss• Inflammation of the pancreas, heart, and

other organs are rare complications.• If you develop mumps in the first 12-16

weeks of a pregnancy, it may increase the risk of miscarriage.

WARNING!!

Mode of Transmission• Mumps is spread by mucus or

droplets from the nose or throat of an infected person, usually when a person coughs or sneezes. Surfaces of items (e.g. toys) - when the infected touched them without washing their hands, then someone else touches the same surface and then rubs their eyes, mouth, nose etc. (this is called fomite transmission).

Period of Communicability• Affected people are infectious from

about six days before, until about five days after, a parotid gland begins to swell

Susceptibility• Persons should be considered susceptible

to mumps unless they have documentation of (1) physician-diagnosed mumps, (2) adequate immunization with live mumps virus vaccine on or after their first birthday, or (3) laboratory evidence of immunity.

Methods of Control• Outbreak control included isolation of the

patient with symptoms, seclusion of patients potentially incubating mumps virus, and immunization of susceptible patients and health care workers.

• Symptoms may be relieved by the application of intermittent ice or heat to the affected neck/testicular area and by acetaminophen/paracetamol (Tylenol) for pain relief.

• Warm salt water gargles, soft foods, and extra fluids may also help relieve symptoms.

• Patients are advised to avoid fruit juice or any acidic foods, since these stimulate the salivary glands, which can be painful.

Prevention and Control• immunization with a mumps vaccine,

invented by Maurice Hilleman • The vaccine may be given separately or as

part of the MMR immunization vaccine which also protects against measles and rubella.

• The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the routine administration of MMR vaccine at ages 12–15 months and at 4–6 years.

• wash hands well and often with soap, and to teach children to wash their hands too.

• Eating utensils should not be shared, and surfaces that are frequently touched (toys, doorknobs, tables, counters, etc) should also be regularly cleaned with soap and water, or with cleaning wipes.

MMR

• Two doses of mumps-containing vaccine, given as combination measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine, separated by at least 28 days, are routinely recommended for all children. The first dose is given on or after the first birthday; the second is given at 4 - 6 years of age. Most adults who have not been vaccinated should also receive 1 dose of MMR vaccine, but adults who work in healthcare, a school/university setting, and persons at high risk of exposure to mumps should get 2 doses.