Mumps is an infection caused by a virus which spreads easily from person to person through infected saliva. If one is not immune, they can contract mumps by breathing in saliva droplets of an infected person who has just sneezed or coughed. One can also contract mumps from sharing utensils or cups with someone who has mumps. It causes swelling of the glands in front of the ears and above the jaw. These glands are called "parotid” glands.
Mumps used to be much more common than it is now. Few people get mumps now because most children get a vaccine that helps prevent the infection. It is called the MMR vaccine. The MMR vaccine combines vaccines for mumps and two other infections (measles and rubella) in one shot. It is recommended that all children get the MMR vaccine as part of their routine childhood vaccines.
Some people with mumps have no symptoms initially, but in most people, the early symptoms include; fever, feeling tired and achy, headache and poor appetite. About two days after these early symptoms start, the parotid glands become swollen.
To help ease ones symptoms, wet a clean cloth with warm water and put it on the swollen area. When the cloth cools, reheat it with warm water and put it back on. Repeat these steps for 10 to 15 minutes every few hours. Taking some over-the-counter pain medicines such as paracetamol, ibuprofen will help to ease the pain and fever. Adults above 18 years of age can also take some aspirin for pain and fever but it isn’t advised to give aspirin for fever to a child or teenager who is younger than 18 suffering from mumps as it can cause a dangerous condition called Reye syndrome. There is no specific treatment for mumps and most medications given are to alleviate the symptoms, hence immunisation remains the cornerstone of overcoming mumps
If you suspect that you or your child has mumps, you need to see your doctor. It is advisable that you let your doctor’s office know before you go in that you suspect mumps so that you won’t have to wait so long in the waiting room or queue, possibly infecting others. Mumps has become an uncommon illness, so it’s possible that the signs and symptoms are caused by another condition. Swollen salivary glands and a fever could be an indication of inflamed tonsils (tonsillitis) or a blocked salivary gland.
Other viruses can infect the parotid glands, causing a mumps-like illness.
People with mumps usually get better in about two weeks. In rare cases, mumps can cause other problems, including; swelling of one or both testicles in boys and men, inflammation of the ovaries in girls and women, infections in and around the brain, and deafness.
Dr. Ian Shyaka
Resident in Surgery, Rwanda Military Hospital,
iangashugi@gmail.com