Mumps

Background

  • Contagious viral infection caused by a paramyxovirus
  • Mumps cases in US range from few hundreds to thousands per year
  • Highly infectious and is transmitted by respiratory droplets, direct contact, or fomites
  • The incubation period is usually 16 to 18 days (range 12 to 25 days) from exposure to onset of symptom

Clinical Features

Patient before (left) and after (right) being infected with Mumps.
Child with mumps.
Mumps.jpg
  • Initially presents with headache, fever, myalgias, fatigue, anorexia
  • 48-hours later develop salivary gland swelling
  • Parotitis (can be unilateral, bilateral)- lasts up to 10 days
  • Usually self limiting

Complications

  • Orchitis/oophoritis (most common complication)
    • Tends to affect post pubertal males
    • Usually occurs 5 – 10 days after parotitis and is accompanied by fever
  • Neurologic complications
    • Meningitis
    • Encephalitis
    • Deafness
  • Less common complications - arthritis, pancreatitis, thyroiditis, myocardial involvement

Differential Diagnosis

Bilateral Parotitis

Facial Swelling

Testicular Diagnoses

Evaluation

  • Usually clinical diagnosis- symptoms, vaccination status
  • Lab testing
    • RT-PCR
    • Serology

Management

  • Supportive care

Disposition

See Also

External Links

References