Mumps is a highly contagious infection. It results in fever and swelling of the parotid glands. These are salivary glands located near the front of the ear. Mumps is caused by a virus.
The virus is usually spread through contact with an infected person's saliva. Since the virus is highly contagious, it spreads easily among people in close contact.
Once a common childhood illness, mumps is now rarely seen in the US. This is largely because of the use of the vaccine, which provides lifelong immunity.
Symptoms include:
In some cases, people have no symptoms. If symptoms do occur, it is generally 2-3 weeks after exposure.
There are no medicines or specific treatments for mumps. Since the illness is caused by a virus, it cannot be treated with antibiotics. Mumps should not be treated with aspirin. Treatment is aimed at improving comfort, which may include:
The mumps vaccine is usually given in combination with:
All children (with few exceptions) should receive the mumps vaccine two times at:
For those 18 years of age or younger who have not been vaccinated, two doses of MMR are given. The doses are separated by four weeks.
Unvaccinated adults, aged 19-49 years, get one dose. Those who work in healthcare or school/university settings and those at high risk of exposure to mumps should get two doses. For adults aged 50 years and older who have not been vaccinated, one dose is given to those considered at high risk.
Like any vaccine, the MMR vaccine could cause serious problems. While most people do not have any problems with the MMR vaccine, some have reported:
You should not get the vaccine if you:
Talk to your doctor before getting the vaccine if you have the following conditions:
Other than getting the vaccine, the best way to prevent mumps is to avoid contact with an infected person.
During an outbreak, unvaccinated people should get two doses of the MMR vaccine. Since it may take 2-4 weeks to get full immunity, newly vaccinated people are at risk for getting mumps for up to one month. For this reason, people with the illness should be isolated for nine days after the onset of symptoms.
WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION?
Immunization Initiatives
American Academy of Pediatrics
http://www.cispimmunize.org/
National Immunization Program
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/
References:
Mumps. New York State Department of Health website. Available at: http://www.health.state.ny.us/diseases/communicable/mumps/fact_sheet.htm. Accessed February 6, 2007.
Mumps vaccination. US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/mumps/default.htm. Accessed February 6, 2007.
1/31/2008 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/what.php: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Recommended immunization schedules for persons aged 0-18 years—United States, 2008. MMWR. 2008;57;Q1-Q4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, MMWR website. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5701a8.htm. Updated January 10, 2008. Accessed January 28, 2008.
Last reviewed November 2009 by David L. Horn, MD, FACP
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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