MUMPS
Mumps is a virus infection. It mainly affects the salivary glands but
sometimes other parts of the body are affected. Mumps normally affects
children, but can occur at any age. Mumps is now rare in the UK as
children are routinely immunised against mumps
What are the usual symptoms of mumps?
- Swelling and pain of one or both parotid glands are the usual main symptoms. (The parotid glands are the main salivary glands. They are just below the ears and you cannot normally see or feel them. The salivary glands make saliva which drains into the mouth)The mouth may feel dry
- Chewing and swallowing may be sore
- Fever (temperature), headache, feeling tired and being off food may develop for a few days
- Mild abdominal (stomach) pain may occur
The swelling of the parotid glands usually lasts 4 to 8 days. Mumps is normally a mild illness, but complications sometimes occur. This is why immunisation is important. There may be no symptoms, or only very minor ones. It is thought that about 3 in 10 people who contract the mumps virus have no symptoms. Rarely, complications alone occur without the usual symptoms occurring first. The immune system makes antibodies during the infection. These clear the virus and then provide lifelong immunity. It is therefore very rare to have more than one episode of mumps
What are the possible complications of mumps?
The testes (testicles) are sometimes affected. One testis may become
inflamed, swollen, and painful for a few days. This is uncommon in
young children. But, about 1 in 4 males who get mumps over the age
of 12 develop a painful swollen testis. Occasionally, both testes are
affected. In rare cases this may cause infertility
Brain inflammation (encephalitis or meningitis) is an uncommon complication. It typically causes drowsiness, headache, stiff neck, wanting to keep out of the light, and vomiting. Although alarming, meningitis caused by the mumps virus usually clears after a few days without any long-term problems. However, deafness in one ear is a rare long-term problem that can occur
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. (However, the mumps virus is not thought to cause malformations or defects in an unborn baby)
What is the treatment for mumps?
There is no medicine that kills the mumps virus. Treatment aims to
ease symptoms until the body's immune system clears the virus
- You do not need any treatment if symptoms are mild
- Paracetamol (or for children Calpol, Disprol, etc) can ease fever and pain. Ibuprofen is an alternative
- Keep cool if you have a fever
- Drink plenty, particularly if you have a fever. Fruit juice may stimulate the parotid gland to make more saliva, and cause more pain. Water is best if this occurs
- A warm flannel held against a painful parotid gland is soothing
When to seek medical help?
Most children are back to normal within 7-10 days. Seek medical help
if you suspect that a complication is developing (described above)
Should people with mumps keep away from others?
Yes. Mumps is very infectious (contagious). It is passed on by coughing
and sneezing the virus into the air. It takes 14-21 days to develop
symptoms after being infected. Affected children are infectious from
6 days before, until about 5 days after, a parotid gland begins to
swell. It is best not to mix with others once mumps is suspected.
Children immunised against mumps are unlikely to catch mumps. However,
immunisation is not 100% effective. Also, some adults may not be
immune and some children may have a poor immune system. So keep children
with mumps away from school, and from others, for five days from
the onset of parotid gland swelling
Mumps immunisation
Immunisation is offered to all children in the UK. It is part of the
MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) vaccine. Two doses are required
- the first aged 15 months and the second about 3 years later. Immunisation
gives very good protection, and so mumps is now rare in the UK. The
majority of people born between 1982 and 1990 will only have received
one MMR immunisation as routine. Please check with your doctor whether
you have received both the required doses, and if not arrange to
do so as soon as possible
Source: Adapted with permission from a © document supplied by EMIS and PIP
NHS
Direct 0845 46 47 www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk
