Mumps

Mumps in Men

Pain and swelling of the testicle affects 1 in 4 males who get mumps after puberty. The swelling is usually sudden and affects only one testicle. The testicle may also feel warm and tender. 50% of men who get mumps-related orchitis notice some shrinkage of their testicles and an estimated 1 in 10 men experience a drop in their sperm count However, this is very rarely large enough to cause infertility. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/mumps/complications/

Mumps in Pregnancy

There is little evidence to suggest that women catching mumps during the first trimester of pregnancy have an increased risk of miscarriage. The risk for pregnant women is the same as that for all adults. Pregnant women should not receive the mumps vaccine or MMR and women should avoid becoming pregnant one month after vaccination. https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/vaccinepreventable/mumps/factsheets/mumpsfaqsforthegeneralpublic/

Mumps in Children

Mumps is now rare in childhood since the introduction of the MMR vaccination. There is no specific medical treatment for mumps and it cannot be cured by prescribing antibiotics.

Ensure the child is given plenty of liquids and soft food the chew (as their glands will be sore). Do not give tart or acidic juices (such as orange juice, or lemonade) which could make the parotid gland pain worse. Try and reduce the temperature by giving paracetamol or ibuprofen. Soothe the glands with warm/cool compresses. Encourage the child to get plenty of rest. https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/mumps.html

How Is Mumps Treated?

As above with plenty of liquids and paracetamol or ibuprofen to relieve aches and pains and reduce the temperature. Plenty of bed rest.

Symptoms of Mumps

The symptoms of mumps generally develop 14-25 days after being infected with the mumps virus. The average incubation period is about 17 days.

Swelling of the parotid glands is the most common symptom of mumps. The parotid glands are on either side of your face, just below your ears. Normally both glands are affected. Symptoms include;

“pain and tenderness in the swollen glands

“pain on swallowing and/or difficulty swallowing.”

https://www.hse.ie/eng/health/az/m/mumps/symptoms-of-mumps.html

Both glands are usually affected by the swelling, although in a minority of cases, only one gland is affected.

Prevention of Mumps

People who receive the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination are generally immune to receiving mumps. The MMR vaccine is given before a child attends school and is given in two stages;

Between 12-15 months and again between 4-6 years of age.

Two doses of the MMR vaccine are recommended before a child enters school. Those vaccines should be given when the child is:

• Between the ages of 12 and 15 months
• Between the ages of 4 and 6 years

It is recommended that all third level students, people travelling abroad and health care workers are encouraged to make sure they’ve had two doses of the MMR vaccine. A single dose is not completely effective at preventing mumps.

Image of Mumps