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Mumps Vaccine Information - Causes, Symptoms And Treatment of Mumps

What is Mumps ?

Mumps is caused by the paramyxovirus of the common childhood illnesses, it is the disease with the longest incubation period and can take as long as three weeks from infection to outbreak.

The virus is contagious for about a week before the disease breaks out, which can make it difficult to track down the source of infection.

Causes of Mumps

The cause of mumps is the mumps virus, which spreads easily from person to person through infected saliva. If you're not immune, you can contract mumps by breathing in saliva droplets of an infected person who has just sneezed or coughed. You can also contract mumps from sharing utensils or cups with someone who has mumps. Mumps is about as contagious as the flu.

Symptoms of Mumps

The most common symptoms are fever , headache , muscle aches, tiredness and loss of appetite followed by onset of parotitis (swollen and tender salivary glands under the ears-on one or both sides).

Mumps can lead to hearing loss, aseptic meningitis (infection of the covering of the brain and spinal cord ) in about 10% of cases, painful, swollen testicles in 20% to 30% of males who have reached puberty ( orchitis ) but rarely does this lead to fertility problems, and painful swollen breasts in about 30% of women who have reached puberty ( mastitis ), and in a very few cases, inflammation of the ovaries.

Diagnosis of Mumps

If you and your child has mumps, a virus culture or a blood test may be needed. The blood test can detect mumps antibodies, which indicate whether you've had a recent or past infection.

Treatment of Mumps

There is no specific treatment. Supportive care should be given as needed. If someone becomes very ill, they should seek medical attention. If someone seeks medical attention, they should call their doctor in advance so that they don't have to sit in the waiting room for a long time and possibly infect other patients.

Preventions tips for Mumps

• Rest in bed until the fever goes away.
• Isolate yourself or your child to prevent spreading the disease to others.
• Take acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) to ease symptoms. Adults may also use aspirin. Don't give aspirin to children because of the risk of Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal disease.
• Use a cold compress to ease the pain of swollen glands.
• Wear an athletic supporter to ease the pain of tender testicles.
• Avoid foods that require lots of chewing. Instead, try broth-based soups or soft foods, such as mashed potatoes or cooked oatmeal, for nourishment.
• Avoid sour foods, such as citrus fruits or juices, that stimulate saliva production.
• Drink plenty of fluids.
• Plan low-key activities.