More than 1,000 suspected or confirmed cases of the mumps have been reported in eight Midwest states, and medical officials expect that number to grow. As news of a mumps outbreak continues to make headlines, many parents worry about the threat of this illness to their children. Should you be concerned?
“Although there is an outbreak in Ohio and other states, we have not seen confirmed cases of the mumps in the Houston area or anywhere in Texas at this point,” explains Dr. Julie A. Boom, director of Texas Children’s Immunization Project, and assistant professor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine. “Because vaccine-preventable disease is only a plane ride away, it is important to make sure your children are fully immunized and immunized on time.”
Here, Boom offers more information about the mumps, including suggestions on how you can protect your family.
What is the mumps, and should I worry about my child getting it?
The mumps is a very contagious viral infection that causes fever, headaches, muscle aches, fatigue, loss of appetite and parotitis or swollen saliva glands. Though severe complications are rare, the mumps can cause aseptic meningitis, orchitis or swelling of the testicles in older boys, oophoritis or swelling of the ovaries, mastitis or swelling of the breast, deafness and encephalitis.
Your child may be at risk if he or she has not been vaccinated and is exposed to the mumps.
It’s important to remember that, at this time, there is no evidence of a mumps outbreak in Texas.
Is there any way to protect my family?
The single best way to prevent the mumps is to make sure your child is vaccinated. Texas Children’s strongly urges parents to check their child’s immunization records to confirm they’ve had all recommended doses of the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine. The first dose of MMR is given on or after the first birthday; the second is given at 4 to 6 years of years of age. All school-age children should have had two doses.
If your child has not been vaccinated, talk to his or her pediatrician about receiving the MMR. Parents should also check their immunization records to ensure they’ve received all recommended vaccines.
Another important thing you can do to prevent the mumps and other illnesses is to wash your hands often with soap and warm water. To clean your hands and fingers thoroughly, scrub them while singing the “Happy Birthday” song twice. Teach your children to do the same. Do not share eating utensils and thoroughly clean surfaces that are frequently touched, such as toys and door knobs.
My child is only 3 years old and hasn’t had the second dose of MMR. Is he or she at greater risk?
More than nine out of 10 children develop immunity after a single dose of the MMR vaccine. These children seem to develop life-long immunity in most cases. The second dose of MMR at 4 to 6 years is primarily recommended to increase protection against measles.
How do people catch the mumps?
The mumps virus usually is spread through the air by coughing and sneezing as well as by touching a surface infected by an ill person. Droplets from the nose and throat from an ill person that land on surfaces can be picked up by hands and may be rubbed into the eyes, nose and mouth, causing infection.
When do symptoms appear?
Those infected usually see symptoms 14 to 18 days after infection, though symptoms may show anywhere from 12 to 25 days after infection. An infected person may spread the disease from three days before onset of symptoms until nine days after symptoms appear.
What should I do if my child has been exposed to someone I think is infected with the mumps?
First, don’t panic. If your child is vaccinated, he or she probably won’t get sick.
If your child has not been vaccinated, it is possible he or she could get the mumps. You should watch for symptoms, and be sure that everyone else in the household is vaccinated.
If symptoms of the mumps appear, contact your child’s pediatrician and keep your child home from daycare and school until cleared by his or her doctor.
How can I check my child’s immunization record?
Parents may contact their child’s pediatrician for a copy of his or her immunization record.
If you have lost your child’s immunization record or changed pediatricians, your child’s doctor can access his or her record through the Houston-Harris County Immunization Registry.
Where can I get more updates about the mumps outbreak?
Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Web site about the recent mumps outbreak for the latest information.
