Mumps – What Is It? How Is It Contracted? Should We Vaccinate?

Mumps or parotitis is a contagious disease that can be acute or chronic and that affects one or both parotid glands,  responsible for producing saliva. They are located behind the ascending branches of the jaw.

This disease is caused by a virus of the genus Paramyxoviridae and is usually common in children and adolescents, although it can also cause infections in sensitive adults.

Mumps can also affect other glands in the body, the nervous system, and the testicles.

Before the introduction of universal vaccination, mumps was an endemic disease throughout the world. It affected most children between the ages of 2 and 15.

Since the introduction of the vaccine, the incidence has dropped sharply with only occasional outbreaks of the disease in Latin America. Mumps is usually spread between about two days before the parotids become inflamed and up to 7 to 9 days after.

Being a respiratory virus, transmission occurs through droplets that are released when sneezing, coughing or talking.

What are your symptoms?

Some people infected with the mumps virus have very mild or no signs or symptoms. When signs and symptoms do occur, they generally appear about two to three weeks after exposure to the virus.

The main symptom of mumps is the inflammation of the salivary glands that causes the cheeks to swell. In addition to this characteristic inflammation, patients may also have:

• Pain in swollen salivary glands on one or both sides of the face.
• Pain when chewing or swallowing
• Fever.
• Headache and muscle pain.
• Weakness and fatigue
• Loss of appetite.

Complications

Complications from mumps are generally rare. Some of them are:

• Hearing loss.
• Miscarriages in pregnant women.
• Abnormalities in the heartbeat.

Although they are not very common, they can be potentially serious. Most involve inflammation of some part of the body.

Aside from the salivary glands, about a third of men with mumps also develop inflammation of one or both testicles. This complication is known as orchitis. This complication could cause sterility, although it is usually rare.

Another complication that can appear from mumps infection is inflammation of the ovaries, in the case of girls, although it is usually less frequent.

On the other hand, on rare occasions, the central nervous system can also become inflamed and lead to meningitis or encephalitis, if it is the brain that is damaged.

Mumps prevention

The best way to prevent mumps is undoubtedly the MMR vaccine. This vaccine combines doses to prevent measles, mumps, and rubella. It is both individual and collective protection.

The MMR vaccine is included in the childhood vaccination schedule. Two doses are given, one at 12 months and one at 3 years. At this point, it should be remembered that vaccines do not protect 100%, hence some isolated cases can occur.

In this case, it should be mentioned that in 2019 there was an outbreak of mumps because, although the protection of the vaccine has an efficacy above 95%, there was a problem with certain doses of MMR.

Those vaccinated during the years 1995 to 1998 and between 1985 and 1988 have significantly less protection.

How can mumps be treated?

Being a viral infection, the treatment is focused on reducing the symptoms, that is why it is said that the treatment is symptomatic. It is based on the administration of NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), in addition to rest.

Antibiotics should not be given, as they are only effective against bacterial infections, not viral. Once an outbreak appears, it is advisable to review case by case to revaccinate if there are doubts.

On the other hand, mentioning that diet is another important factor to take into account. It will depend on the conditions of the infected person to be able to eat, which is usually reduced to soft foods. However, if the intake is possible, it will not be necessary to limit the diet.