Mumps

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• Mumps is an infection that commonly affects the parotid (puh-RAH-tid) glands. Parotid glands make saliva (spit), and are located in front of and below each ear. Mumps is spread from person to person by a germ called a virus. Children should get an MMR vaccination (measles, mumps, and rubella shot) to keep from getting the infection. Mumps can spread to anyone who has not had an MMR shot or mumps in the past. An infected person can spread mumps from two days before to ten days after signs and symptoms first appear. After your child is infected, it may take two to three weeks for him to get sick. Once your child has mumps, he is immune (will not get it again).
  
  
• People of any age can have mumps, but it is most common in children and young adults. Mumps usually goes away 10 to 14 days after the first signs and symptoms of sickness occur. Your child's first signs and symptoms may be fever, headache, and tiredness. A few days later, the glands on one or both sides of the cheeks and neck may swell. These glands may be hard and painful. Your child's ear may hurt and he may have abdominal (belly) pain. It may be painful for your child to chew or move his mouth. Your child may not want to eat or drink. If your child is a boy, his testicles may become red, swollen, or painful.

AFTER YOU LEAVE:

Medicines:

• Give your child's medicine as directed: Always give your child's medicine as directed by his caregivers. Call your child's caregiver if you think your child's medicines are not helping. Call if you feel your child is having side effects. Do not quit giving the medicines to your child until you discuss it with your child's caregiver.
  
  
• Do not give aspirin to children under 18 years of age: Giving aspirin to your child when he is ill may cause a very serious illness called Reye's Syndrome. This could lead to brain and liver damage. Read medicine labels to see if your child's medicine has aspirin in it.
  
  
• Acetaminophen: Acetaminophen is over-the-counter (OTC) medicine that may help ease your child's fever and discomfort. Read the label on the medicine so that you give the right amount to your child. Ask your child's caregiver to help you learn how much medicine to give and how often to give it.
  
  
• Ibuprofen: If your child has a lot of swelling, the caregiver may tell you to give him ibuprofen. Ibuprofen is in a family of medicine called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicine (NSAIDs). This medicine may help decrease pain, redness, and swelling.
  
  
• Read the ingredient labels of all medicines that you give to your child: Do not give your child other over-the-counter (OTC) medicines without first talking to your child's caregiver. Many of these medicines may also have acetaminophen or ibuprofen in them. Giving too much acetaminophen or ibuprofen may harm your child.

Ask your child's caregiver when to return for a follow-up visit. Keep all appointments. Write down any questions you and your child may have. This way you will remember to ask these questions during your child's next visit.

How can I help my child feel better while he has mumps?

• Help your child to rest. Your child should rest as much as possible and get plenty of sleep. If your child feels OK, allow him to do play that will not make him tired. Give him books or a drawing pad for quiet play.
  
  
• Use heat to help decrease your child's pain. Heat brings blood to the sore area and helps it heal faster. Use a heating pad (turned on low) or make a warm compress, and put it on your child's neck. To make a warm compress, wet a clean towel with warm water and wring it out. Put the heating pad or compress on your child's neck for 15 to 20 minutes each hour. Do this for as long as your child needs it. Do not let your child sleep on the heating pad. This could cause a bad burn.
  
  
• Use an ice pack to help decrease swelling and pain. Use a bag of frozen peas or corn, or put ice in a plastic bag. Cover it with a towel. Place this over your child's swollen glands for 15 to 20 minutes each hour. Do this for as long as your child needs it. Do not let your child sleep on the ice pack because he could get frostbite.
  
  
• Feed your child healthy foods. Your child may eat his usual amounts of food, or he may not be as hungry. Feed your child a variety of foods including fruits, vegetables, breads, dairy products, meat and fish. Eating healthy foods may help your child feel better and have more energy. It may also help him get better faster.
  
  
  • Do not give your child foods that cause him to chew a lot. Chewing and moving the mouth may cause increased pain. Serve your child soft foods that are easy to chew. These include bananas, cooked cereal, rice, noodles, mashed potatoes, applesauce, and soup.
    
    
  • Do not give your child tangy or sour foods. These include citrus juices or fruits such as oranges, grapefruit, or lemons. Sour and tangy foods cause your child's parotid glands to make extra saliva, which can lead to increased pain.
  
  
• Give your child plenty of liquids. Help your child drink at least six to eight (8-ounce) cups of clear liquids each day. Give your child liquids such as water, juices that are not sour or tangy, and decaffeinated sports drinks. This will help to prevent your child from becoming dehydrated. Dehydration happens when your child's body loses too much water and salts. Some signs of dehydration are dry mouth and feeling thirsty, dizzy, or lightheaded. Your child may also pass little or no urine if he is dehydrated.
  
  
• Prevent dehydration by giving your child ORS.
  
  
  • If your child is dehydrated or will not eat regular food, he may need oral rehydration solution (ORS). It has the right amounts of water, salts, and sugar your child needs to replace the lost water. Ask your child's caregiver if your child should have ORS to drink.
    
    
  • Some types of ORS are ready to use. Do not mix these with water or anything else. Other types of ORS come as a powder that you mix with boiled or bottled water. Follow the label or your caregiver's directions when making this kind of ORS. Start with small sips of the ORS, especially if your child is vomiting (throwing up). Offer more ORS (in small amounts) to your child if he does not throw up. Continue to feed your child food and give him drinks along with the ORS.

How can I help prevent my child from spreading mumps?

• Keep your child away from others, especially people who have never had mumps or an MMR vaccine. People who are not protected should call their caregiver to see if they should get the MMR shot. Talk to your caregiver about whether you or your other children need an MMR shot. Do not have an MMR shot if you are pregnant or planning to get pregnant in the next three months.
  
  
• Keep your child home from school or day care until his neck is no longer swollen. This usually takes about 10 days after the pain and swelling started. Call your child's school or daycare to tell them your child has the mumps. If you cannot stay with your child before your child's mumps have gone away, ask others to help. Talk to adult family members or friends who have had an MMR shot or mumps in the past. Ask them if they can stay with your child while you cannot be there.

Risks: Mumps can lead to serious medical problems. Mumps may cause swelling of your child's pancreas (an organ inside the belly). Mumps may lead to an infection of the brain or spinal cord, which could cause brain damage. Rarely, mumps can cause a boy to become sterile (cannot cause a woman to get pregnant). It may cause your child to lose some or all of his hearing. Some rare complications (problems caused by having mumps) may cause your child to die.

For more information: Children usually need two MMR shots to help prevent mumps. They should get the first shot between 12 to 15 months old. They should get a second shot between four to six years old or later. Adults may only need one MMR shot. Ask your caregiver and your child's caregiver if you and your child have had MMR shots in the past. To learn more about mumps and vaccinations, contact the following organization:

• The National Immunization Program Public Inquiries
  1600 Clifton Road, Mailstop E-05
  Atlanta, GA 30333
  Phone: 1-800-232-4636
  Web Address: http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/
  

CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:

• Your child has a fever (increased body temperature).
  
  
• Your child starts to vomit (throw up).
  
  
• Your child gets abdominal (belly) pain that will not go away.
  
  
• Your child has pain or swelling of the testicles.
  
  
• Your child's eyes become uncomfortable or red.
  
  
• The skin over the swollen area becomes red at any time.
  
  
• The swelling lasts for eight days or more.

SEEK CARE IMMEDIATELY IF:

• Your child has a convulsion (seizure) or trouble thinking clearly.
  
  
• Your child has a severe headache that is not relieved by pain medicine.
  
  
• Your child has a stiff neck.

Copyright © 2008 Thomson Healthcare Inc. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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