Mumps is an acute infectious viral disease caused by the mumps virus, leading to swelling of the parotid salivary glands. It is transmitted through saliva or mucus from the mouth, nose, or throat of infected individuals. Common symptoms include swelling of the parotid glands, pain when opening the mouth, and fever. While usually mild, complications can include infection of the testes, ovaries, pancreas or brain. The mumps virus is prevented through the live attenuated MMR vaccine, which is recommended in a three-dose schedule at 9 months, 15-18 months, and 4-6 years of age.
2. Pathogenesis
Mumps virus is transmitted by droplet nuceli, saliva, and fomites.
Replication of virus in the epithelium of the upper respiratory tract leads
to viremia, which is followed by infection of the CNS.
3. β’ Mumps is an acute infectious disease caused by RNA virus whose most
distinctive feature is swelling of 1 or both parotid glands. Involvement of
other salivary glands, the meninges, the pancreas and the gonads are
also common.
Agent factors:
Agent - Myxovirus parotiditis is a RNA virus of myxo virus family.
Source of infection β both clinical and sub clinical cases. Virus can be
isolated from the saliva, can be found in the blood, urine, stool and some
occasions on csf.
Period of communicability: 4-6 days before the onset of symptoms and a
week or more there after
Secondary attack: estimated to be about 86%
4. Host factors
Age and sex β 5 β 9 years, the diseases tends to be more severe than
in children.
Immunity β one attack clinical or sub clinical is assumed to induce life
long immunity.
Environmental factors
β’ Largely and endemic disease, peak incidence is in winter and
springs often associated with over crowding
Mode of transmission
Droplet infection and after direct contact with infected persons.
Incubation period: 2 β 3 weeks usually 18 days.
5. Clinical features
β’ Pain and swelling at 1 or both the parotid glands but may also
involve the sublingual and sub mandibular glands.
β’ Often the child complains of ear ache on the affected side prior
to the onset of swelling.
β’ There may be pain and stiffness on opening the mouth before
the swelling of gland is evident.
β’ Mumps may also infect the testis, pancreas, CNS< ovaries,
prostrate, etc. in severe cases there may be fever, headache
and other constitutional symptoms which may last from 3-5
days.
β’ The swelling subsides slowly over 1-2 weeks.
7. PREVENTION
β’ Live attenuated vaccine is available to prevent Mumps.
β’ In India Mumps vaccine is combined with Measles and
Rubella (MMR = Mumps, Measles and Rubella)
β’ IAP recommends MMR at 9 months of age (measles
containing vaccine ideally should not be administered before
completing 270 days or 9 months of age), second dose at 15-
18 months and third dose at 4-6 years of age.
8. Prevention of transmission -
β’ Patients diagnosed with mumps should stay away with others for
at least 5 days from the onset of symptoms.
β’ Encourage the patient for good hand washing practices.
β’ Encourage the patient to cover mouth and nose during coughing
and sneezing with tissue, (put used tissue in the trash can) and if
tissue is not available cover with upper sleeve or elbow, not the
hands.
β’ Drinks and eating utensils of patient should not be shared by
others.
β’ Frequently touched surfaces, such as toys, doorknobs, tables,
counters should be kept clean.