An illness due to infection
with the mumps virus. When present, symptoms include swelling of the glands on
the sides of the face and along the jaw line, high fever and
headache.
This swelling may be on one
side of the face only. Approximately 30% of cases will have only mild symptoms
or no symptoms at all. Inflammation of the testicle (orchitis) occurs in 15 to
25% of adult males and inflammation of the ovary (oophoritis) occurs in about 5%
of adult females but sterility following infection is rare. Other rare
complications are inflammation of the spinal cord and brain.
The diagnosis is suspected
following clinical examination and can be confirmed by a blood
test.
Mumps is spread directly by mucous membrane (lining of nose and
mouth) contact with airborne droplets from the nose and throat and indirectly by
contact with hands, tissues and other articles soiled by nose and throat
discharges. The disease is also spread by direct contact with the saliva of an
infected person.
Incubation period
12-25 days; usually 18
days.
Infectious period
Up to six days before swelling
of the glands begins and up to nine days after the onset of swelling.
Asymptomatic infections can still result in spread of infection. Exposed
nonimmune people should be considered infectious from the 12th to the 25th day
after exposure with or without symptoms.
Control of
spread
- The person should be excluded
from school or work for nine days after the onset of symptoms or until swelling
goes down (whichever is sooner).
- Tissues and other objects
soiled with nasal secretions should be disposed of appropriately.
- Mumps is best prevented by the
measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) combination vaccine. Two doses of MMR vaccine are
recommended, one at twelve months and a booster between 4 to 5
years.
Treatment
Treatment of the symptoms
includes plenty of fluids and paracetamol, following directions on the pack, for
the fever.
Mumps is a notifiable
disease.
Adapted from
"You’ve got What?" with the permission of the Department of Human Services,
South
Australia.