Description

Mumps is a contagious viral disease, characterized by swelling of one or more salivary glands, primarily
parotid glands located in front of ears. The swelling of parotid glands is also termed as Parotitis. A
person infected with mumps gives a distinctive “hamster face” appearance.

Causative agent description

The illness is caused by the RNA virus, Rubulavirus. Rubulavirus is within the genus Paramyxovirus and is
a member of the family Paramyxoviridae.

This virus contains a single-stranded, negative-sense RNA surrounded by a glycoprotein envelope. Of 2

glycoproteins on the surface of the RNA viral envelope, one mediates neuraminidase and
hemagglutination activity, whereas the other is responsible for fusion to the lipid membrane of the host
cell.

Rubulavirus can be isolated in viral culture from saliva, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Chemical
agents (i.e. ether, formalin, chloroform), heat and ultraviolet light can inactivate this virus.

Sites of Infection
When you get mumps, the virus moves from your respiratory tract (your nose, mouth and throat) into
your parotid glands (saliva-producing glands found either side of your face), where it begins to
reproduce. This causes the glands to swell.

The virus can also enter your cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which is the fluid that surrounds and protects
your brain and spine. Once the virus has entered the CSF, it can spread to other parts of your body, such
as your brain, pancreas, testicles (in boys and men) and ovaries (in girls and women).

Sign and Symptoms

Mumps has an incubation period of 14-18 days from exposure to onset of symptoms. The duration of
the disease is approximately seven to 10 days.

In about 1 in 3 cases, mumps doesn't cause any noticeable symptoms.

The initial symptoms of mumps infection are nonspecific:

 Pain while chewing or swallowing

 Low-grade Fever
 Headache
 Muscle aches
 Weakness and fatigue
 Loss of appetite

A high fever of 103°F (39°C) and swelling of the salivary glands usually develops on the third day of
illness. The glands swell and become painful periodically. Parotitis usually lasts at least 2 days, but may
persist longer than 10 days.
Serious health complications of mumps include meningitis, encephalitis, pancreatitis, deafness, and
orchitis.

Rare Conditions
Other salivary glands (submandibular and sublingual) under the floor of the mouth also may swell but do
so less frequently (10%).

Mumps infection may also present only with nonspecific or primarily respiratory symptoms, or may be
asymptomatic. Recurrent parotitis, when parotitis on one side resolves but is followed days to weeks
later by parotitis on the other side, can also occur in mumps patients.

Diagnosis
Mumps is diagnosed based on clinical symptoms, particularly the swelling of the neck and lower face
region.

Lab Tests

 Antibody Tests
 Salivary Culture Reverse Transcriptase-PCR
 Spinal Fluid Sample and Culture
 Pancreatic Enzyme Testing

Imaging Tests

Not part of the routine diagnosis of mumps; however, for some of the complications of mumps,
imaging studies may be helpful.

o Neck CT
o Brain CT or MRI
o Abdominal CT or Ultrasound
o Testicular Ultrasound

Transmission
Mumps virus can spread through

 airborne droplets
 direct contact with saliva/respiratory secretions.

An infected person can spread the virus by

o Coughing
o Sneezing
o Sharing items that may have saliva on them, such as water bottles or cups
o Participating in close-contact activities with others, such as playing sports or dancing
o Touching objects or surfaces with unwashed hands, that are then touched by others.

A person who is diagnosed with mumps should stay home from work or school and avoid close contact
with others until at least 5 days after the swelling starts.
Treatment
There are currently no medications to treat the mumps virus.

Until the patient’s immune system fights off the infection, following treatments should be carried out to
relieve the symptoms:

 Get plenty of bed rest until your symptoms have passed

 Take over-the-counter painkillers, such as ibuprofen or paracetamol, to relieve any pain
(children aged 16 or under should not be given aspirin)
 Drink plenty of fluids, but avoid acidic drinks such as fruit juice as these can irritate your
parotid glands; water is usually the best fluid to drink
 Apply a warm or cool compress to your swollen glands to help reduce any pain
 Eat foods that don't require a lot of chewing, such as soup, mashed potatoes and
scrambled eggs

The infection usually passes within a week or two.

Prevention
The best way to prevent the spreading of mumps is to:

 Stay away from school, college or work until 5 days after you first developed symptoms
 Wash your hands regularly, using soap and water
 Always use a tissue to cover your mouth and nose when you cough and sneeze, and
throw the tissue in a bin immediately afterwards
 Vaccination can prevent mumps.

Vaccine
To prevent mumps and mumps complications, vaccines are produced in the combinations

 Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) Vaccine

 Measles-Mumps-Rubella-Varicella (MMRV) Vaccine

Two doses of the MMR vaccine are recommended before a child enters school.

 Between the ages of 12 and 15 months

 Between the ages of 4 and 6 years

A third dose of vaccine isn't normally recommended. But doctors might recommend a third dose if a
certain area experiences an outbreak.