Mumps: Causes, Symptoms and Prevention Explained

Mumps is a viral disease that affects the parotid salivary glands. Although it starts with mild symptoms like headache, fatigue and fever, it can eventually lead to swelling in the cheeks and jaws. Mumps usually affects children, but adults can also be infected. The measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine helps prevent the spread of mumps.

What are mumps?

Mumps is a viral infection caused by a paramyxovirus of the rubulavirus family. It is common among children aged 5-9 years and is easily spread through airborne or surface droplets, physician Dr Kiran R Dhake told Healthshots.

Causes of mumps

Mumps is caused by the mumps virus, which belongs to a group of viruses called paramyxoviruses. This virus is a common source of infection in children. “The mumps virus moves from the respiratory tract (nose, mouth and throat) into the saliva-producing glands on either side of the face (parotid glands). This is where the virus replicates, leading to gland swelling.

The virus also enters the fluid in the tissues surrounding the spinal cord and brain (CSF fluid). Once the virus enters the CSF, the virus can travel to other parts of the body—the pancreas, brain, and testicles in boys and men and ovaries in girls and women.

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How is mumps spread?

Mumps is an airborne virus and is spread by direct contact with infected droplets from the nose, mouth and throat of an infected person. An infected person can spread mumps by:

1. Sneezing, coughing, or talking—releasing tiny droplets into the air that can be inhaled by another person.
2. Sharing or using objects containing saliva. This may include utensils, cups and toys, among other things.
3. Surface contact. An infected person can transfer the virus onto desks, door handles, work surfaces and keypads. If someone else touches the item after a while, there is a high probability that the virus will be transferred.
4. Establishing intimate contact with an infected person-playing, holding hands, kissing, dancing, etc.

High-risk groups that are more likely to develop mumps include:

1. People with weak/compromised immune system.
2. An unvaccinated person
3. People living in enclosed spaces-camps, quarters.

Also Read: Celiac Disease: How to Identify Digestive Disorder in Young Children?

Symptoms of mumps

Symptoms of mumps usually develop 12 to 24 days after a person is exposed to the virus. This period is called incubation period.

The most common symptom of mumps is cheek swelling. This is caused by swollen saliva-producing glands, which are located on either side of the face below the ear. Swelling can lead to pain, tenderness and difficulty swallowing.

Common symptoms of mumps before swelling of the cheek gland are:

1. Fever
2. Headache
3. Fatigue.
4. Muscle pain/joint pain.
5. Dry mouth.
6. Feeling sick
7. Lack of appetite.

In rare circumstances, the mumps virus can affect the brain, pancreas, testicles and ovaries. It occurs in adolescents and adults. Timely medical advice is recommended if the following symptoms occur.

1. High grade fever
2. Neck stiffness
3. Severe headache
4. Confusion
5. Abdominal pain
6. Vomiting
7. Forced raids

Treatment of mumps

The treatment protocol focused on symptom relief. Most infected people settle down within two weeks. The following steps may be helpful.

1. Bed rest
2. Over the counter pain killers
3. Plenty of fluid intake
4. Apply warm or cold pads to suppress the swollen glands
5. Eat easily chewable foods
6. Avoid spice, oil, food
7. Gargling salt water

If symptoms do not subside within a week despite taking the above measures, please consult your doctor immediately.

How to prevent mumps

The expert enumerates some preventive measures that can be taken to prevent mumps.

1. Wear a mask or cover your mouth appropriately when coughing or sneezing
2. Practice hand hygiene regularly
3. Isolation – Stay away from work/school/college for 5 days after first symptom appears.
4. MMR vaccine