Mumps is a paramyxovirus and it is transmitted via respiratory droplets,
saliva, or contact with fomites. The disease requires you to be in close
contact in order for it to spread. However, transmission is most likely to
happen 2 days before through 5 days after parotitis onset, or inflammation of
the salivary gland (1). Mumps is an acute systemic illness and after an average
incubation period of 16-18 days’ people present with parotitis that lasts 2-10
days. Nonspecific prodromal symptoms of low grade fever, headache, malaise,
myalgais, and anorexia may happen several days before parotitis happens. In the absence of parotitis then complications such as orchitis, oophoritis, mastitis,
hearing loss, aseptic meningitis, encephalitis, and pancreatitis may occur (2).
(3).
Mumps is endemic in many contrived throughout
the world, but by the ends of 2016 mumps vaccines were being routinely used in
121 countries (2). This is good because the more people get vaccinated the
closer mumps would be to eradication since humans is its only host (1).
Currently the Mumps vaccine is available
in the US in the form as a combined measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR) or
combined measles-mumps-rubella-varicella vaccine (MMRV) (ProQuad). Single
antigen mumps vaccine is not available in the US. The CDC recommends at least one dose for children 12 months
or older and then a second dose at age 4-6 years old (1).
Resources:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019, April 15). Pinkbook. Retrieved May 07, 2020, from https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/mumps.html
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019, June 24). Mumps - Chapter 4 - 2020 Yellow Book. Retrieved May 08, 2020, from https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2020/travel-related-infectious-diseases/mumps
- Sun, L. (2019, April 11). How does measles spread? Do I need another MMR vaccine shot? How dangerous is measles? FAQ on the outbreaks. Retrieved May 07, 2020, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2019/04/09/how-does-measles-spread-other-frequently-asked-questions-about-measles/
