A playmate of my two children was recently diagnosed with mumps. My 7-year-old daughter received her first measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine at 13 months, but my 3-year-old son was never vaccinated for mumps at all. Should I worry about my kids contracting the virus? If so, what symptoms should I look for?
Mumps is an airborne virus that can be spread by an infected person releasing tiny droplets of contaminated saliva, which are then breathed in by another person. The virus is typically transmitted through coughing, sneezing, talking, sharing cups or utensils, and touching infected objects or surfaces.
The disease is caused by a virus that results in painful swelling of the salivary and parotid glands located in front of and below each ear near the lower jaw. Symptoms of the virus typically begin within a few days of infection with fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, and loss of appetite. The swollen glands are usually the final symptom that occurs.
Once the infection of the mumps virus has started, it just has to run its course and most people with mumps recover completely in a few weeks. To minimize discomfort, children should eat a soft diet and avoid foods that require much chewing or are acidic. Ibuprofen can also be used for headache and discomfort.
However, mumps can occasionally cause serious complications. In young children, the virus can cause encephalitis, which is swelling of the brain. Adults can also develop encephalitis or meningitis, which is an infection of the covering of the brain and spinal cord, or pancreatitis, swelling of the pancreas. Mumps can cause swelling of the testicles in males past puberty, which sometimes leads to infertility and can lead to a miscarriage in women who are in the early stages of pregnancy.
The decision made by some parents to avoid routine immunizations for children is based on unsubstantiated myths, conspiracy theories, and debunked research. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend a number of immunizations for infants in their first year of life, including the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine. Since the U.S.’s measles, mumps, and rubella vaccination program began in 1967, the number of reported cases of mumps has dropped to fewer than 1,000 a year. However, as you witnessed with your child’s playmate, cases of mumps can still occur even in highly-vaccinated areas.
The Centers for Disease Control recommend that children get two doses of measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine, starting with the first dose at 12 through 15 months of age, and the second dose at four through six years of age.
The measles, mumps, and rubella shot is very safe, and it is effective at preventing mumps, as well as measles and rubella. Most children don’t have any side effects from the shot, but reactions that do occur are usually very mild.
Continue monitoring your children’s (especially your son’s) temperature for a fever and check their glands for any sign of swelling. It’s not too late to vaccinate your son, and you should continue to keep to the immunization schedule recommended by your pediatrician.
