Mumps is an acute viral infection that is most common in the winter and spring. Mumps is more common in children but more risky in older children and can, in rare cases, cause long term and life threatening complications in men.
How mumps spreads
Mumps is spread through contact with infected saliva or discharges from the nose or throat of infected people, usually through sneezing and coughing.
Incubation period for mumps
The usual incubation period for mumps is between 16 to 18 days although this period may vary between 12 to 25 days.
When a person with mumps is contagious
A person who has mumps is contagious (can pass on the virus) for the 3 days before signs and symptoms become evident and for 4 days after the onset of them. Mumps is less contagious than measles or chickenpox but as contagious as flu and rubella.
Signs symptoms of mumps include:
Complications of mumps
Complications of mumps, although potentially very serious, are quite rare. In men these complications include:
Immunity from mumps
Once you have had mumps you acquire immunity. This means people who have had mumps rarely get it again. If they do it is usually a much milder case of the illness.
Adult men vaccination for mumps
There is a vaccine for mumps. This is usually administered in childhood. The vaccine is usually offered in combination with the vaccine for measles and mumps. High immunization rates in your local community provide good protection for adults and children. Unfortunately the rates of mumps are increasing because the MMR (measles mumps and rubella) vaccine has been linked with autism. This link is far from proven.
Adult men vaccination for mumps
Not all adults will need to consider having a vaccination against mumps (MMR). This includes you if:
It is advisable for adults to have the MMR vaccine if you are a health worker, a college student, in the military or are traveling abroad where you are more likely to come into contact with mumps.
The vaccine is not recommended for people who have had a life-threatening allergic reaction to gelatin or the antibiotic neomycin, if you have had cancer, a blood disorder, or another disease that affects your immune system. If this profile fits you then you must consult your doctor before making the decision to have an MMR vaccine.
MMR Vaccine side effects
The great majority of people who have the MMR vaccine or the mumps vaccine experience no side effects at all. In 1 out of 1,000,000 doses the recipient experiences a serious allergic reaction. Ten per cent experience fever that occurs within between 5 to 12 days following the vaccination. Five per cent of people develop a mild rash.
Treatment for mumps
Self care, unless you get complications, is best. There is not much the doctor can do. Take yourself to bed if you have a fever and take things easy. You can take asprin or ibuprofen to help bring down the fever and ease any muscle discomfort. Eat what you fancy and drink plenty of fluids. Have someone nice look after you!
02/02/2006
