Mumps

Mumps, a disease that is usually spread through saliva and infects various parts of the body, especially the parotid salivary glands, is caused by the myxo virus.

The parotid salivary glands are what produce saliva. These glands are located between the ear and jaw at the back of each cheek. These glands typically swell and become painful to touch when a person is infected with mumps.

This disease has been recognized for several centuries. The name "mumps" could possibly come from either "lump" or "mumble".

At one point was a very common disease. A lot has changed since the mumps vaccine was developed and then licensed in 1967.  Before the release of the mumps vaccine, more than 200,000 known cases occurred each year in the United States alone.  The number of cases in the USA is now fewer than 1,000 a year.

Once a person has suffered from mumps, the likelihood of developing the mumps again in the person’s life time is very rare. This is because the immunity developed gives lifelong protection against the disease.

Mumps Transmission

The Transmission of the mumps virus is airborne or through direct contact with infected tiny droplets or saliva. These droplets are ejected from the body during coughing and sneezing.

It is possible to transmit this virus to other people from about 3 days before symptoms appear to 4 days after.
Mumps Complications

It is more common for adults to get serious complications of mumps than it is for children.
Women can also be at risk for spontaneous abortions if they get mumps during the first trimester of pregnancy.
Half of adolescents or adult men may experience painful swelling of the testicles, called orchitis.  It is very rare for sterility to occur.

The following rare complications caused by this disease can include:

An Infection of the brain (encephalitis), and inflammation of the covering of the brain and spinal cord (meningitis).
 
Arthritis, kidney and pancreas problems, deafness, and inflammation of the thyroid gland and ovaries.

The listed complications above can have some very serious consequences. If you suspect the onset of any of these complications, then seek immediate medical advice.

Please consult your doctor as soon as possible if you or your child has contracted mumps.

• Mumps symptoms
  mumps symptoms usually include a high fever of up to 103 degrees
  
  
• Treatment for mumps
  treatment for mumps is not possible by using antibiotics
  
  
• Prevention of mumps
  prevention of mumps is done with a mumps or MMR vaccination