Mumps
Mumps is caused by a virus that infects the salivary glands in the mouth and can
also affect other organs in the body. There is no cure for mumps, but the illness
is quite short, lasting 7 to 10 days.
It is spread by coughing and sneezing (this is why there were often outbreaks during
the winter before vaccines were introduced), and it takes 14-18 days to develop symptoms
after being infected with the virus. It is very contagious and spreads quickly through
households.
Typically your baby will develop a slight temperature, tiredness, headache, muscle
ache and loss of appetite, before the recognisable swelling of the glands in the neck.
Some people (about 1 in 5) show no symptoms and some have very minor cold-like symptoms.
Mumps can cause serious complications, often without many symptoms – about half of
all people with mumps will develop a type of meningitis, which means that the membrane
surrounding the brain is inflamed. Inflammation (swelling) of the brain can happen
but is quite rare.
Commonly, about half of boys (after puberty) with mumps can develop swelling of the testicles (called orchitis) that can lead to fertility problems, and young girls (about 1 in 20) can develop inflammation of the ovaries (oopharitis). Other more serious complications include deafness, inflammation of the heart muscles, arthritis and inflammation of the kidneys. The MMR vaccine protects children from the virus that causes mumps.
Commonly, about half of boys (after puberty) with mumps can develop swelling of the testicles (called orchitis) that can lead to fertility problems, and young girls (about 1 in 20) can develop inflammation of the ovaries (oopharitis). Other more serious complications include deafness, inflammation of the heart muscles, arthritis and inflammation of the kidneys. The MMR vaccine protects children from the virus that causes mumps.
