Although a face with mumps looks funny, it is no laughing matter for the poor sufferer. Mumps may occur in epidemic outbreaks, usually in children, every three or four years.

What is mumps?

Mumps is a swelling of the saliva glands, which are situated in the front of the ear and over the angle of the jaw, under the jaw and under the tongue. It is caused by a virus and mostly affects children of two years and older. Its medical name is “epidemic parotitis”.

Infection is spread through contact with the saliva, or droplets which are coughed, sneezed, or breathed out by a person with the illness. The child becomes ill 15 to 21 days after exposure to the virus. The sick child can infect other people from about six days before the swelling occurs until about two weeks afterwards. The child will start feeling better after about a week.

Possible complications of mumps, although rare, include encephalitis, middle ear infection and inflammation of the testicles in adolescent and adult males, which may lead to sterility.

Once a person has had mumps, he or she is usually immune to the illness for the rest of his or her life.

Symptoms

      • The first sign of a case of mumps is often a high fever accompanied with a headache
      • Usually one saliva gland at the front of the ear and over the jaw swells first, followed a few days later by the same infection on the other side of the face
      • Earache when eating
      • Swelling of other saliva glands
      • Swelling of the reproductive organs of the body (the scrotum in males and ovaries in girls) or pancreas, causing abdominal pain.

Treatment

        • Keep the child quiet for a few days, even though bed rest is not a requirementIf chewing causes pain, give soups, smoothies, yoghurt and fluids
        • Give cool fluids to help bring down the temperature
        • If a testicle is sore, support the scrotum with a pillow or bandage
        • If the child has pain, give a mild pain reliever in the recommended doses.
        • If there is severe or persistent pain or headache with a stiff neck, consult a doctor who may prescribe painkillers or treat complications.

Prevention

The best form of mumps prevention is immunisation, which has been available since 1967.

If possible, keep children away from others with the illness.

Our Employee Wellbeing Programme (EAP) is available 24 hours a day if you want to know more about mumps and other childhood illness.