Mumps is caused by a virus infection. Symptoms begin with a headache and fever for a day or two before a characteristic swelling of the salivary glands by the jaw. Although rarely fatal, complications of mumps can include:
Mumps is spread by infected saliva and is usually caught in a similar way to a cold or 'flu. If a person has been infected with mumps there is a period that lasts for 14-21 days before there are symptoms (the incubation period). A person with mumps is infectious from several days before the swollen glands appear to several days afterwards. It is recommended that young people stay away from school, university or work for nine days from the onset of swollen glands. At least 30% of cases in young people have no symptoms.
The diagnosis can be confirmed by oral fluid testing. There is no specific treatment for mumps. Treatment should be based on alleviating symptoms.
The Measles, Mumps & Rubella (MMR) vaccine was introduced in the UK Childhood Immunisation Schedule in 1988, so you may have missed out on this vaccination. As the rates of MMR vaccine uptake have fallen as a result of adverse publicity related to the MMR vaccine, there are between four and five times the usual number of cases of mumps locally; many of these cases are occurring in young people of your age. The MMR vaccine offers safe and effective protection against mumps as well as measles and rubella (German Measles), which can lead to serious illness as well.
People are not given the MMR vaccine if they:
90-95% of people will be immune to mumps after the first dose.
The normal procedure for licensing was used for MMR and the vaccine was thoroughly tested before being introduced into the UK in 1988. All medicines can cause side effects. International research has demonstrated that the MMR vaccine is the safest way to protect against the risks of measles, mumps and rubella. The evidence is that MMR vaccine does not cause autism or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
The vaccine can cause a fever and /or a rash. A less common reaction is swelling of the salivary glands, which may occur in the third week after vaccination. Rarely, some individuals experience a severe allergic reaction to the vaccination or a component of the vaccine very shortly after the vaccine has been injected. This is called anaphylaxis and the staff administering the vaccine are trained to recognise and treat it. Other reactions are extremely rare.
If you cannot remember whether you have had the vaccine it is advisable to have the vaccine. There is no increased risk of the side effects from the vaccine with two or three doses.
Whilst it is very unlikely that you will get mumps again if you have had mumps or a mumps-like illness before, it is possible that you will do so. This is because your immunity may not have lasted. Also, it is possible that the diagnosis of mumps was wrong. Therefore we recommend that you DO have the MMR vaccine.
See the answer to the above question.
No. The vaccine is being given free of charge.
Telephone the Avon Health Protect Team on +44 (0)117 900 2620 or +44 (0)117 900 2621.
This information is from the Department of Health and Health Protection Agency. It is issued by Dr Joyshri Sarangi, Consultant in Communicable Disease Control, 9 November 2004