Mumps

GENERAL INFORMATION:

What is it? Mumps is an infection that commonly affects the parotid (puh-RAH-tid) glands. Parotid glands help to make saliva (spit). They are located in front of and below each ear. People of any age can have mumps. However, it is most common in children and young adults. After your child is exposed (infected), it may take two to three weeks before he gets sick with mumps. Mumps usually goes away 10 to 14 days after the first signs and symptoms of sickness occur. The best way to prevent mumps is to get an MMR vaccination (Measles, Mumps and Rubella shot).

What causes mumps? Mumps is spread from person to person by a germ called a virus. It is spread from an infected person to others by coughing, sneezing, and talking. Your child can also catch mumps by eating or drinking from cups, plates, or utensils used by the infected person. The disease 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. Once your child has mumps, he is immune (will not get it again).

What are the signs and symptoms of mumps? First signs and symptoms may be fever, headache, muscle and joint pains, or feeling more sleepy than usual. A few days later, your child may have one or more of the following:

• Ear pain and abdominal (belly) pain.
  
  
• Not hungry and thirsty. Your child may have nausea (feel sick to his stomach) or vomiting (throwing up).
  
  
• Pain when chewing or moving the mouth. Eating sour or tangy foods or drinks may cause your child's glands to make more saliva. This can cause increased pain.
  
  
• Swollen parotid glands on one or both sides of the cheeks and neck. These glands may be hard and painful.
  
  
• Testicle pain. Boys with mumps may have testicles that become red, swollen, or painful. Testicles are round, rubbery organs located inside the scrotum (loose sack of skin behind a boy's penis).

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

• Help your child to rest. Make sure your child rests and gets 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 ice or heat to relieve pain and swelling. Put a warm towel, heating pad (set on low), or an ice pack on your child's swollen glands. This may help ease his pain.
  
  
• Give your child plenty of liquids. Your child should drink at least six to eight (8-ounce) cups of water or other clear liquids. This will help prevent dehydration. Dehydration happens when your child's body loses too much water and salt. A child who is dehydrated may be thirsty, dizzy, lightheaded, or may have a dry mouth. 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.
  
  
• Give your child soft foods to eat. Offer your child soft foods such as cooked cereal, rice, mashed potatoes, applesauce, or soup. Do not serve foods that are sour or hard to chew because they may make your child's pain worse.
  
  
• Give your child medicines to ease his pain:
  
  
  • Acetaminophen: Give your child acetaminophen for fever and discomfort. Do not give aspirin to children under 18 years old. Aspirin may cause a very serious illness called Reye's syndrome.
    
    
  • 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.

Do's and Do nots:

• Do call your child's school or daycare center to tell them your child has the mumps.
  
  
• Do ask your child's caregiver if you or your other children need an MMR shot.
  
  
• Do not send your child to school while he has pain and swelling. Your child may be able to spread mumps germs for up to 10 days (until the swelling goes down). If you cannot be with your child at home during the days 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 if needed.

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.

Call your child's caregiver if:

• Your child has a temperature over ____ or a fever that lasts more than five days.
  
  
• 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 in the cheeks 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 (very bad) headache that is not relieved by pain medicine.
  
  
• Your child has a stiff neck.

CARE AGREEMENT:

You have the right to help plan your child's care. To help with this plan, you must learn about your child's health condition and how it may be treated. You can then discuss treatment options with your child's caregivers. Work with them to decide what care may be used to treat your child.

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