October 26, 2023 Author : Liliana Beirão Mumps, or epidemic parotitis, is an infection of the parotid gland . It is an infectious disease caused by the paramyxovirus virus; In Portugal, it is a notifiable disease; Despite being more common in school-age children, especially between 2 and 9 years old, and young adults, it can affect all ages; Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent it. The parotids are salivary glands: Together with the submaxillary and sublingual glands, they form the group of main salivary glands; The parotids are the largest and are located in the jaw area, below each ear. Mumps is a very contagious infection . It is transmitted between people through respiratory droplets – saliva and nasal secretions – by coughing and sneezing, or through direct contact with secretions from infected people, including on contaminated surfaces and objects. The incubation period can be 12 to 25 days; The virus is eliminated during this period, before there are symptoms, which contributes to the rapid spread of the disease; Contagion is possible from 2 to 5 days before until 6 to 9 days after the onset of symptoms. Mumps symptoms Swelling of the parotid glands is the most characteristic sign of mumps, but it is not the first symptom of the disease. As a rule, it starts with : Fever; Tiredness; Headaches and muscle pains; Decreased appetite. Parotid swelling occurs on average 2 days later, it can start in just one of the glands and then affect both. Other possible symptoms are : Mouth dryness; Difficulty and/or pain when chewing and/or swallowing. Cases of mumps without symptoms may occur, being more common in adults than in children. Complications of mumps Mumps can have complications, especially when it affects young people after puberty and young adults , as well as unvaccinated people. Complications are: Inflammation of the testicles ( orchitis ), in 15%-30% of cases, which usually begins with high fever, pain and testicular swelling, which may need to be treated in hospital. Inflammation of the ovaries, in 5% of cases, which is characterized by abdominal pain, fever and vomiting. Neurological problems such as encephalitis and meningitis and deafness. Arthritis, pancreatitis and heart problems are complications of mumps also reported. Diagnosis and treatment Currently, with the widespread vaccination of children, the suspicion of mumps is raised when typical symptoms and/or complications are present. The diagnosis can be confirmed based on blood tests or other fluids such as saliva, urine or cerebrospinal fluid (the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord). Mumps is a self-limiting infection and there is no specific treatment , which means that treatment should consist of general support measures to alleviate symptoms. The following may be recommended: Application of local heat to relieve swelling; Treatment of pain and fever; Liquid or pasty foods to facilitate ingestion; Increased water intake. Prevention Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent mumps . The mumps vaccine is part of the Portuguese national vaccination program . The vaccine simultaneously protects against mumps, measles and rubella; It is given in 2 doses, at 12 months and a booster dose at 5 years of age. This vaccine made it possible to drastically reduce the number of mumps cases, but even so, between 2014 and 2018, 655 cases of mumps were reported in Portugal: 373 in boys/men; 252 between 5-14 years old; 2017 was the year with the most cases: 178 310 cases occurred in the Northern Health Region References Albrecht MA. Mumps. www.uptodate.com Serviço Nacional de Saúde. Doenças de declaração obrigatória – Parotidite epidémica . Meet the general and family medicine clinical team from Hospital da Luz network. The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
