mumps

What is Mumps?

Mumps is a contagious viral infection that can be serious, especially in children and adults who are not vaccinated or have weakened immune systems [1]. It is caused by the mumps virus, which affects the glands on each side of the face, called parotid glands, making saliva.

Symptoms of Mumps

The symptoms of mumps include:

• Painful swelling of the jaw, fever, tiredness, appetite loss [1]
• Mild pain in the front of the neck (salivary glands) or right in front of the ears (parotid glands) [4]
• Swollen salivary glands that can cause difficulty swallowing and speaking
• Fever, headache, muscle aches, and fatigue

Complications of Mumps

While mumps is usually a mild illness, it can lead to serious complications, including:

• Inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) [9]
• Inflammation of the testicles (orchitis), which can cause infertility
• Hearing loss or deafness in some cases

Prevention and Treatment

Mumps is preventable with the MMR vaccine, which also protects against measles and rubella. The treatment for mumps focuses on relieving symptoms, such as pain and fever, with medication like acetaminophen or ibuprofen [3]. In severe cases, hospitalization may be necessary to manage complications.

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Common Signs and Symptoms of Mumps

Mumps is a viral illness that can cause a range of symptoms, which can vary in severity from person to person. Here are some common signs and symptoms of mumps:

• Swollen Salivary Glands: The most distinctive symptom of mumps is the swelling of the salivary glands under the ears, which can cause puffy cheeks and a tender, swollen jaw [2][4].
• Pain and Swelling in the Jaw Area: Pain and swelling in the jaw area are common symptoms of mumps, especially in children [6].
• Trouble Talking and Chewing: The swelling of the salivary glands can make it difficult for people to talk or chew food properly [6].
• Earache: Some people may experience earache as a symptom of mumps [6].
• Fever: A high fever is often one of the first symptoms of mumps, which can be accompanied by headache and fatigue [3][5].
• Headache: Headache is another common symptom of mumps, which can range from mild to severe [1][7].
• Loss of Appetite: Many people with mumps experience a loss of appetite due to the discomfort caused by the swollen salivary glands [7].

Other Possible Symptoms

In some cases, mumps may also cause other symptoms such as:

• Joint pain
• Feeling sick
• Dry mouth
• Mild abdominal pain
• Feeling tired

It's worth noting that in about 1 in 6 cases, mumps doesn't show any symptoms at all [7]. If you suspect that you or someone else has contracted mumps, it's essential to seek medical attention for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Diagnostic Tests for Mumps

Mumps diagnosis can be supported by detecting mumps IgM antibody in serum specimen collected as soon as possible after symptom onset [6]. A positive IgM result indicates a recent infection with the virus.

Types of Diagnostic Tests:

• Blood Test: A blood test may show an immune system reaction to the virus, indicating a current or past infection. This test requires a blood sample and can detect antibodies to the mumps virus.
• RT-PCR Testing: RT-PCR (Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction) testing is performed on mumps specimens, such as buccal swabs or urine samples. Positive PCR specimens may be cultured using traditional virus culture to facilitate genotyping surveillance [10].
• Viral Culture: Viral culture involves growing the virus in a laboratory setting to confirm its presence.
• Serological Tests: Serological tests detect antibodies to the mumps virus in the blood, indicating a current or past infection.

When to Perform Diagnostic Tests:

Diagnostic tests should be performed when the patient's viral load is at its peak (≤3 days from symptom onset) for optimal results [5]. In addition, testing an additional urine sample may not increase diagnostic yield significantly but can double testing volume and cost [7].

Specimens Used for Testing:

• Buccal Swab Specimen: A buccal swab specimen is the ideal specimen for diagnosis, as it provides a direct sample of the virus from the mouth.
• Serum Specimen: Serum specimens collected as soon as possible after symptom onset can also be used to detect mumps IgM antibody.

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Treatment Options for Mumps

Mumps, caused by a viral infection, does not have a specific medical treatment. However, there are some steps you can take to aid recovery and lessen symptoms.

• Rest: Getting plenty of rest is essential to help your body recover from the illness.
• Pain management: You can use non-aspirin medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen to reduce fever and alleviate pain. However, it's crucial not to give children aspirin due to its potential risks [1][2].
• Antibiotic limitations: Since mumps is a viral infection, antibiotics cannot be used to treat it. Currently, there are no anti-viral medications available for treating mumps [3][4].

Medications for symptom relief

While there's no specific treatment for mumps, some medications can help manage symptoms:

• Acetaminophen (Tylenol): This is often the drug of choice for pain in patients with documented hypersensitivity to aspirin [5].
• Ibuprofen: Non-aspirin medications like ibuprofen can also be used to reduce fever and alleviate pain.

Important note

It's essential to remember that mumps is a viral infection, and antibiotics cannot treat it. Antibiotics are only effective against bacterial infections, not viral ones [6][7].

Differential Diagnosis of Mumps

Mumps, also known as epidemic parotitis, is a viral infection that primarily affects the salivary glands, causing swelling and pain in the face and neck area. However, there are several conditions that can be considered in the differential diagnosis for mumps.

• Viral pathologies: Conditions such as uveoparotid fever, coxsackie virus, and other viral infections can present with similar symptoms to mumps [1].
• Lymphadenopathy: The presence of well-defined borders and location behind the angle of the jawbone can be indicative of lymphadenopathy, which is a condition that needs to be ruled out in the differential diagnosis [2].
• Encephalitis, epididymitis, mastoiditis, myocarditis, orchitis, ovarian (adnexal) torsion, and parotitis: These are some of the serious complications that can occur in the absence of parotitis or as a result of mumps infection, which need to be considered in the differential diagnosis [3].
• Meningoencephalitis and pancreatitis: These are other potential complications that may arise from mumps infection, requiring prompt reporting to public health authorities for accurate diagnosis and management [4].

It's essential to note that while these conditions can present with similar symptoms to mumps, the only cause of epidemic parotitis is the mumps virus. Therefore, a thorough clinical evaluation and laboratory tests are necessary to confirm the diagnosis of mumps.

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