Mumps

Mumps used to be one of the most common childhood diseases but it’s pretty unusual these days, although your child is at risk if he hasn’t had the MMR vaccination.

It’s a viral infection of the salivary glands in the cheeks – hence the swelling that’s the main symptom (although some children get it without the swelling). One side of your child’s face may swell before the other, and he’s likely to refuse his food because it hurts to swallow. He may also run a fever.

Mumps is very contagious – your child can develop it if someone with the illness coughs on him or he touches or plays with something an infected child has touched. Symptoms take two to three weeks to develop – your child will be infectious for around 10 days after he exhibits symptoms. Call your pediatrician if you think your child may have mumps, as it has to be reported to the health department.

Treatment

Give your child a fever reducer such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen if necessary. Avoid aspirin, because of its association with Reye’s syndrome. You can apply warm or cold packs to his neck to help bring the swelling down. Encourage him to drink plenty of fluids but don’t offer OJ as it will irritate his inflamed salivary glands.

Mumps is generally mild but rarely it can lead to meningitis (inflammation of the covering of the brain), encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and deafness. If your baby is particularly listless, he vomits, or his fever rises sharply, call your pediatrician or take him to the ER.

Prevention

The MMR vaccination protects your child against mumps as well as measles and rubella. Although the vaccine isn’t 100 percent effective, it will dramatically decrease his chances of contracting mumps. Children usually have the MMR vaccination sometime between 12 and 15 months.

The information in this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.