Mumps is a disease caused by a virus and occurs only in human beings. Mumps is found all over the world. Mumps is a contagious disease when thesalivary glands, on one or both sides of the jaw, swells. Mumps usually occursin school age children, but young adults may catch the disease.
Everyone bornbefore1957 has already had mumps. After one attack of mumps, you will havelifelong immunity. The mumps virus is spread by contact of another person’sdischarge from the nose or mouth. The virus is present in these discharges fromsix days before symptoms to nine days after the glands begin to swell.
The viruswill then incubate for two to three weeks before symptoms appear. Symptoms include headaches, jaw being painful and tender to the touch,fever, and difficulty swallowing. The swelling usually disappears after sevento ten days. Some complications includedeafness (usually only in one ear),arthritis, meningitis (inflammation of brain membranes) and pancreatitis(inflammation of the pancreas).
One of every four male adults with the viruswill develop orchtis,which is inflammation of the testes. Sometimes femaleswill have inflammation of the ovaries. Extremely rare cases will result insterility. Mumps is diagnosed by symptoms, but a blood, urine or saliva testcan confirm that you have the virus. Treatment of the virus includes diet ofsoft foods, bed rest, and pain relievers. The mumps vaccine is given tochildren that are about twelve months old.
The vaccine is usually conbined withmeasles and rubella vaccines, which is called the MMR vaccine.Category: Science
