About Us    Contact Us    Careers    Site Map    Search

Health Care Services    Hospitals & Facilities    Health Information    Find a Doctor    Why Choose Baptist
 
Home Health Information Health Topic Library Child & Teen Health
Mumps
 
What is mumps?
Mumps is a viral disease that causes painful swelling of the salivary glands along the side of one or both cheeks. The swelling lasts at least 9 days after the first sign of tenderness. Other symptoms include:
  • a fever between 101 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit (38.3 to 40 degrees Celsius)
  • loss of appetite
  • general tiredness, and
  • headache.

The fever usually goes away in 3 to 5 days. The other symptoms usually disappear within 7 to 10 days.

The disease spreads when someone with mumps sneezes, coughs, or talks, and others breathe in the infected droplets. Keep away from anyone who has not had the mumps, or who has not had the vaccination. The person with mumps can spread it to someone else 1 to 2 days before the swelling begins and for 5 days after the swelling is gone. Symptoms appear between 12 and 25 days after exposure.

How can mumps be prevented?
Children should receive the measles, mumps, and rubella, or MMR, vaccine. The MMR vaccine is given in a series of 2 shots. The first is given between 12 and 15 months of age and the second between 4 and 6 years of age. Children or adults who have not had mumps or been vaccinated should contact their provider.

How do I take care of my child?
To help relieve symptoms, To help relieve symptoms, it is best to get plenty of rest and drink extra fluids. Avoid citrus juice as it may cause pain. Putting a cold or warm cloth on the swollen glands and eating soft foods that are easy to chew and swallow may help. Give acetaminophen or ibuprofen to control fever. Children under 18 years of age should not take aspirin or products containing salicylate (such as Pepto-Bismol) because of the risk of Reye's syndrome unless recommended by a health care provider.

When should I call my child's health care provider?
Mumps can be very serious, especially for teenagers and adults. More serious cases may result in inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. Permanent hearing loss can occur. Call your health care provider if if there are other symptoms such as:
  • a stiff neck
  • nausea and vomiting
  • dehydration
  • abdominal pain
  • reddened skin over the swollen gland, or
  • swelling of the testicles.

For more information, contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Their National Immunization Information Hotline number is (800) 232-2522 for English, or (800) 232-0233 for Spanish. Visit their Internet Web site at www.cdc.gov.




  Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

  HIA File CHL3737F.HTM Release 9.0/2006. Copyright © 2006 McKesson Corporation and/or one of its subdiaries. All Rights Reserved.


Top of Page

Baptist Online
Read the latest articles about a variety of health subjects, with many practical tips to help you take control of your health.
More

See Information Related to This Topic
Home | Health Care Services | Hospitals & Facilities | Health Information | Find a Doctor | Why Choose Baptist
©2009 Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Disclaimer. Notice of Privacy Practices.
Baptist Memorial Hospital In keeping with the three-fold ministry of Christ — healing, preaching and teaching — Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation is committed to providing quality health care.