Image description. Better Health Channel logo End of image description.

Mumps
Mumpsisaviralillnessthatcausesfeverandswollensalivaryglands.Seriousandpotentiallylethal complicationsincludeinflammationofthebrain(encephalitis)orheartmuscle(myocarditis).The diseaseisspreadfromperson-to-personandisaboutascontagiousastheflu. MumpsisuncommonindevelopedcountriesincludingAustraliabecauseofthewidespreaduseof themumpsvaccine.However,outbreaksstilloccursoitisimportanttocontinuevaccinating children. Symptoms Signsandsymptomsofmumpsmayinclude: Fever Headache Fatigue Weightloss Swollenparotidgland(thesalivaryglandlocatedjustinfrontoftheear)ononeorboth sidesoftheface Painfulchewing Painfulswallowing.

Ima ge des crip

Complications Theinflammationmayspreadtootherareasofthebody.Someofthecomplicationsofmumpscan include: Mastitisbreastinflammation Orchitistesticleinflammation Oophoritisovaryinflammation Meningitisinflammationofthemembranescalledmeningessurroundingthebrainand spinalcord Encephalitisbraininflammation Myocarditisheartmuscleinflammation Pancreatitispancreasinflammation Hepatitisliverinflammation Thyroiditisthyroidinflammation Miscarriageinthefirsttrimesterofpregnancy Nervedeafness,usuallyinbothears.

How it is spread Mumpsisaboutascontagiousastheflu.Mumpsismostcommonlyspreadwhensomeoneingests (swallows)orinhalesthecoughorsneezedropletsfromaninfectedperson.Thevirusisalso carriedinurine.Symptomsoccurbetween14and25daysfollowinginfection. Onepersoninthreewhocontractsmumpsdoesnothaveanysymptomsanddoesntrealisethey aresick;however,theyarestillcontagiousandmayinfectalotofotherpeople.Anapparently healthypersonwhospreadsaninfectiousdiseaseiscalledacarrier. High-risk groups MumpsisuncommoninAustraliathankstovaccination,butcasesstilloccur.Athighriskisanyone whohasntbeenvaccinated,particularlyiftheytraveltodevelopingnationswherevaccination programsarentwidespread. Diagnosis Testsusedtodiagnosemumpsmayinclude:

Mumps

Page1of4

Medicalhistory,includingimmunisationstatus Physicalexamination Travelhistory Bloodtest.

Treatment Nospecificmedicaltreatmentformumpsexists.Antibioticsdontworkbecausetheillnessisviral. Treatmentaimstoeasesymptomsandreducetheriskofcomplications.Optionsmayinclude: Bedrest Plentyoffluids Paracetamoltoreducepainandfever Coldcompressesheldagainsttheswollenparotidglands Softandeasytoswallowfoodssuchassoup,porridgeorpureedvegetables Isolation,toreducetheriskofspreadingthedisease.

Seek medical attention Anuncomplicatedcaseofmumpsusuallyresolveswithinabouttwoweeks.Seeyourdoctorifthe sickperson: Complainsofpainanywhereelse,asthismaybeasignofinflammationinanotherorgan Runsahighfever Appearstobegettingsicker.

Prevention Immunisationisthebestwaytopreventmumps.Peoplewhoarecaringforsomeonewithmumps shouldpracticestricthygiene.Forexample,youshouldwashyourhandsfrequently,particularly beforehandling,preparingoreatingfoodandaftervisitingthetoiletorchanginganappy.Dont sharefoodordrinkutensils.Encouragethesickpersontocoughorsneezeintoatissue. Vaccination is available ThemumpsvaccineinAustraliaiscombinedwithmeaslesandrubella(Germanmeasles)vaccines. Afreevaccinethatoffersprotectionagainstmumpsisavailableto: Young childrenat12monthsofage Childrenatfouryearsofage School-age childrenasacatch-upimmunisation,iftheyhavenotbeenfully vaccinated.

Immunisationisalsorecommendedforadultsbornduringorsince1966unlessyouhave evidenceofhavingreceivedtwodosesofMMR.Ifyouhavenotreceivedthevaccine,speaktoyour doctoraboutcatch-updoses. Vaccination is not suitable for everyone Noteveryoneshouldhavethemumpsvaccination.Apersonwithanimpairedimmunesystem shouldnotbevaccinated.Someofthepossiblecausesofimpairedimmunitymayinclude: Takingcertainmedicationssuchascorticosteroids Receivingimmunosuppressivetreatment HavingsometypesofcancersuchasHodgkinsdiseaseorleukaemia Hypogammaglobulinaemia,acongenitaloracquiredconditioncharacterisedbyextremely lowlevelsofantibodies.

Pregnancy Youshouldnotbegiventhevaccineifyouarealreadypregnantandpregnancyshouldbeavoided for28daysafterthevaccination. Pre-immunisation checklist Beforeimmunisation,itisimportantthatyoutellyourimmunisationproviderifyou(oryourchild) are:

Mumps

Page2of4

Unwell(temperatureover38.5C) Havehadaseriousreactiontoanyvaccine Hadasevereallergytoanything Havehadalivevaccineinthelastmonth Pregnant.

Possible side effects of the vaccine Thevaccineiseffectiveandsafe.However,allmedicinescanhaveunwantedsideeffects.Side effectsfromthemumpsvaccineareuncommonandusuallymildbutmayinclude: Highfever(over39C) Faintredrash(notinfectious) Drowsinessortiredness Headcoldorrunnynose Cough Puffyeyes Swollensalivaryglands Sorenessandrednessattheinjectionsite.

Treating mild side effects Somesideeffectsmayoccurupto10daysafterimmunisationbutusuallyresolvequickly.There areanumberoftreatmentoptionstoreducethesideeffectsofthevaccination: Paracetamoltoreduceanyfevercheckthelabelforthecorrectdose(especiallyfor children) Acold,wetclothheldagainsttheinjectionsite Extradrinks Appropriateclothingdonotoverdress.

Anaphylaxis is an extremely rare side effect Thereisaverysmallriskofaseriousallergicreactiontoanyvaccine.Thisiswhyyouareadvised tostayattheclinicormedicalsurgeryforatleast15minutesfollowingvaccinationincasefurther treatmentisrequired.Apartfromanaphylaxis,otherextremelyraresideeffectsinclude encephalitisandthrombocytopenia(abnormalbleedingcausedbyinsufficientbloodplatelets). Ifreactionsaresevereandpersistent,orifyouareworried,contactyourdoctorforfurther information. Where to get help Yourdoctor AlwayscallanambulanceinanemergencyTel.000 Emergencydepartmentofyournearesthospital Yourlocalcouncilimmunisationservice DepartmentofHumanServicesImmunisationProgramTel.1300882008 NurseonCallTel.1300606024forexperthealthinformationandadvice(24hours,7 days) TheMaternalandChildHealthLineisavailable24hoursadayTel.132229. NationalImmunisationInfolineTel.1800671811

Things to remember Mumpsisaviralillnessthatcausesfeverandswollensalivaryglands. MumpsisuncommonindevelopedcountriesincludingAustraliaduetothewidespreaduse ofthemumpsvaccine. Mumpsiscontagious,sopeoplecaringforsomeonewithmumpsshouldpracticestrict hygiene:forexample,washhandsfrequently,particularlybeforehandling,preparingor eatingfood.

This page has been produced in consultation with, and approved by:

DHS-CommunicableDiseaseControl

Mumps

Page3of4

Copyight 1999/2009StateofVictoria.ReproducedfromtheBetterHealthChannel(www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au)at nocostwithpermissionoftheVictorianMinisterforHealth.Unauthorisedreproductionandotherusescomprisedinthe copyrightareprohibitedwithoutpermission. ThisBetterHealthChannelfactsheethaspassedthrougharigorousapprovalprocess.Forthelatestupdatesandmore informationvisitwww.betterhealth.vic.gov.au.

Mumps

Page4of4