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Mumps

What is Mumps?

Mumps is a common childhood viral disease mainly involving the parotid glands and other important organs of the body.

Who are susceptible of Mumps?

All un-immunized children in late age group 5-15 years of age and un-immunized adults.

How Mumps spreads?

Mumps spreads through air. Children get mumps through contact with others who are already infected with the mumps virus. The virus is spread through the air by coughing, sneezing, or simply talking.

What is the prevalence of Mumps in India and the world over?

Though Mumps is less severe as compared to Measles, it has been observed that 10-15% children are susceptible to this disease. The real problems are the serious complications it can cause

What are the symptoms and adverse effects of Mumps?

The most obvious sign of mumps is swelling of the cheeks and jaw, which is caused by inflammation in the salivary glands. This swelling usually lasts for 10 days associated with fever for 1-6 days. It affects various organs like salivary glands (Parotid glands), testicles (in boys) and ovary (in females), pancreas, and joints.

Mumps can cause severe complications in children like Orchitis in boys (inflammation of testicles), which may lead to infertility. Mumps can also affect reproductive organs in females. Moreover, Mumps can also cause permanent brain damage, deafness, joint pain and even diabetes.

• About 1 child in every 10 who get mumps also gets meningitis (an inflammation of the covering of the brain and spinal cord)
• Occasionally mumps also causes encephalitis. Mumps is a disease, which causes high morbidity but low mortality. The symptoms are troublesome, which is inflammation of the brain itself.
• About 38% teenage or adult men who get mumps develop a painful swelling of the testicles.
• Mumps is a major cause of sensorineural deafness, which is usually permanent
• Studies have also indicated that Mumps can cause diabetes mellitus that rarely causes death (about 1 in 10,000 cases).

What is the treatment for Mumps?

Unfortunately, there is no sure treatment available for Mumps. Vaccination is the only way to prevent Mumps.

When should the vaccine be taken and what is the vaccine schedule for missed doses?

Usually MMR (Tresivac) vaccine is given to protect against Mumps. Tresivac should be administered at the age of 12-15 months, if missed anytime up to the age of 12-13 years.

What are the side effects of this vaccine?

Usually MMR (Tresivac) is well tolerated. However, in rare cases there are some chances of mild reactions like low/mild fever and parotitis.