Paediatrics: Mumps

Mumps

Mumps is a viral infection transmitted by respiratory droplets. The virus enters the parotid gland before systemic spread. The peak incidence is in children aged 5–9yrs.

Signs and symptoms

• Prodrome: myalgia, anorexia, headache, low-grade fever, and chills. The incubation period is 14–21 days.

• Features: 20% of infections are asymptomatic. In 30–40% of cases there is parotitis. In these patients there is often ear pain and tenderness over the gland.

• Other features: headache, anorexia, signs of URTI (i.e. sore throat, cough, and coryza), and low-grade fever.

Diagnosis

• Clinical: characteristic examination with glandular swelling.

• Other. salivary PCR or serology (mumps IgM) in the first week of illness; delayed viral culture of saliva or urine; blood shows lymphocytosis and increased amylase.

Management

• Symptoms: supportive care.

• Immunization: MMR vaccine confers lifelong immunity.

Complications

·Meningoencephalitis: the most common complication and it is usually asymptomatic.

·Orchitis: results in testicular swelling, local pain, and later atrophy.

Other: oophoritis, pancreatitis, and myocarditis.