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Mumps: current outbreaks and vaccination recommendations

Helen Bedford1

  • 1Centre for Paediatric Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Child Health, London.

Nursing Times
|October 13, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Mumps is a moderately infectious viral illness. Many infections are mild or subclinical, presenting with non-specific symptoms, making diagnosis challenging.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Mumps is a contagious viral illness caused by a paramyxovirus.
  • Transmission occurs via airborne droplets and potentially urine.
  • Characterized by an incubation period of 15-24 days followed by flu-like symptoms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe the clinical presentation and transmission of mumps.
  • To highlight the variability in mumps symptoms, including subclinical cases.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of mumps transmission and clinical manifestations.
  • Analysis of incubation periods and symptom progression.
  • Review of diagnostic challenges, including asymptomatic infections.

Main Results:

  • The classic symptom is parotid gland swelling, occurring unilaterally or bilaterally in 90% of cases.
  • Abdominal pain and headache often accompany parotid swelling.
  • Approximately one-third of mumps infections are subclinical or mild and often undiagnosed.

Conclusions:

  • Mumps presentation can vary significantly, with a substantial proportion of infections being asymptomatic or mild.
  • The non-specific prodromal symptoms and possibility of subclinical infections complicate early diagnosis and public health surveillance.

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