Mumps is a contagious viral illness that spreads by droplets of saliva or mucus from the mouth, nose, or throat of an infected person. Anyone who is not immune from either previous mumps infection or from vaccination can get mumps. UHS encourages all students to make sure you’ve had two doses of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine.
Symptoms
Early symptoms are similar to those of the flu:
- Fever
- Headache
- Muscle aches and Fatigue
- Swelling of the cheek and jaw area (salivary glands) usually follows.
Students who show symptoms usually recover in one to two weeks, but mumps can occasionally cause serious complications. The most common complication is inflammation of the testicles in males. Other rare complications include: inflammation of the brain and/or tissue covering the brain and spinal cord; inflammation of the ovaries and/or breasts in females; and deafness.
Treatment
There is no treatment for mumps, but symptoms can be lessened by:
- Getting plenty of bed rest
- Taking ibuprofen or acetaminophen
- Drinking plenty of fluids
Stay home from school, work, and avoid public transportation for five days to prevent further spread of the disease. Cover your mouth and nose during any sneezing or coughing and wash your hands frequently.