October 15, 2012

MUMPS Awareness Letter

Dear Parents,
As there have been talks about mumps in the papers and TV, we thought it would be useful to share information about it with you.
Mumps occurs worldwide, but its incidence has declined dramatically because of the mumps component of the MMR vaccine. Following the decrease in the uptake of the MMR immunisation, there has been a rise in the unimmunised children and unvaccinated young adults. Mumps usually occurs in winter and spring months. It is caused by a virus that is passed from one person to another through saliva, nasal secretions, and close personal contact.
The condition primarily affects the parotid glands before further dissemination to the other tissues.
Symptoms of mumps usually appear within two weeks of exposure to the virus. Flu-like symptoms may be the first to appear, including:

  • fatigue
  • body aches
  • headache
  • loss of appetite
  • low-grade fever

A high fever (up to 39.5°C) and swelling of the salivary glands follow over the next few days. The glands may not all swell at once. More commonly, they swell and become painful periodically. You are most contagious from the time you are exposed to the mumps virus until your parotid glands swell.
Only one side may be swollen initially, but bilateral involvement usually occurs over the next few days.
Parotitis is uncomfortable and children may complain of earache or pain on eating or drinking.
The fever usually disappears within 3-4 days, if associated with abdominal pain, may be evidence of pancreatic involvement.
Illness is generally mild and self-limiting; though hearing loss can follow mumps, usually unilateral and transient.
Complications from mumps are rare, but can be serious if left untreated.
Mumps mostly affects the parotid glands. However, it can also cause inflammation in other areas of the body, including the brain and reproductive organs.

  • Orchitis, Oophritis
  • Meningitis
  • Encephalitis
  • Pancreatitis

Mumps can be prevented through vaccination. Most infants and children receive a vaccine for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) at the same time. The first MMR shot is generally given between the ages of 12 and 15 months at a routine well-child visit. A second vaccination is required for school-aged children between 4 and 6 years old.
NB. The recent controversy regarding a possible association between MMR vaccination and autism and inflammatory bowel disease has been disccreted, but adversely affected uptake of the vaccine and public confidence in the immunization programme.
However, patients who have a compromised immune system, who are allergic to gelatin or neomycin, or who are pregnant, should not receive the MMR vaccine. Children with a history of anaphylaxis to egg should be immunized with the vaccine under medical supervision.
(www.mmrthefacts.nhs.uk)

Dr Sally
Medical Consultant
El Alsson School

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