Mumps - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

Mumps is a contagious viral infection that used to be common in children. Before the development of vaccination, it was a common childhood disease worldwide. It’s most recognizable by the painful swellings of the salivary glands at the side of the face under the ears (parotid glands).

Diagnosis of mumps:

If your doctor suspects that you or your child has mumps, a virus culture (PCR) or a blood test may be needed. Your immune system normally makes antibodies to help you fight an infection. So if you have mumps, the blood test can detect the antibodies in your system that are fighting the mumps virus.

Treatment options for mumps:

Because mumps is caused by a virus, antibiotics aren't effective. Like most viral illnesses, a mumps infection must simply run its course. Fortunately, most children and adults recover from an uncomplicated case of mumps within about two weeks. If you or your child has mumps, time and rest are the best treatments. You can take some steps to ease pain and discomfort and keep others from becoming infected.

Rest in bed until the fever goes away.

Isolate yourself or your child to prevent spreading the disease to others. Take pain relievers

Use a warm or cold compress to ease the pain of swollen glands.

Avoid foods that require lots of chewing. Instead, try broth-based soups or soft foods, such as mashed potatoes or cooked oatmeal, for nourishment.

Avoid citrus fruits or juices, which stimulate saliva production.

Drink plenty of fluids

Complications of mumps:

Mumps will usually pass without causing serious damage to a person’s health. Serious complications are rare. Most mumps complications involve inflammation and swelling in some part of the body, such as testicles, pancreas, ovaries, breasts and brain membranes and fluid around the brain and spinal cord. In rare cases, mumps can cause hearing loss and pregnancy loss.

Prevention of mumps:

In general, you’re considered immune to mumps if you've previously had the infection or if you've been immunized against mumps. The mumps vaccine is usually given as a combined measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, which contains the safest and most effective form of each vaccine.

Two doses of the MMR vaccine are recommended before a child enters school:

The first between ages 12 and 15 months

The second between ages 4 and 6 years, or between 11 and 12 if not previously given

Once both doses are given, the vaccine provides 95% protection against mumps.