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Mumps affects people and is transferred by a tiny respiratory droplet that is small enough to be transported by air for short distances, making the mumps virus exceedingly contagious.
- The mumps virus has a single strand of RNA and is enveloped by a phospholipid bilayer envelope studded with viral proteins Hemagglutinin-neuraminidase or HN protein and fusion or F protein.
- The HN protein permits the virus to cling to a prospective host cell and cut itself free, if necessary, while the F protein joins the viral and cell membranes, allowing the mumps virus to enter the cell.
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Key Takeaways: Viruses, RNA, DNA, HN Protein, F Protein
What are Mumps?
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Mumps is a highly contagious viral illness of the salivary glands that causes the patient's face to resemble that of a hamster. The mumps virus, which belongs to the paramyxoviridae family, causes the disease. This is a big virus family that includes the measles virus and parainfluenza viruses, all of which primarily harm children.
When mumps enters the cell, the negative-sense single-stranded RNA is transcribed by the viral polymerase enzyme into complementary positive sense strands of mRNA, which can then be translated by the host cell's ribosomes into new copies of envelope proteins and the viral polymerase, which are then assembled into new viruses. What happens is that the HN and F proteins on the cell surface now bind other cells, and they end up joining epithelial cells to one another, forming a clump of related cells known as a Syncytium.
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Symptoms of Mumps
Mumps symptoms are usually modest. Many people who have mumps are unaware that they are afflicted. Symptoms do not manifest themselves immediately. They usually appear between 12- and 25-days following infection. The most common time frame is 16-18 days.
The painful enlargement of the salivary glands right below the ear is a classic mumps symptom. Parotitis is a type of swelling that can affect one or both sides of the face. However, only around half of the persons infected with the mumps virus experience this symptom.
For those who do have symptoms, these may include:
- Loss of appetite
- Fever
- Muscle aches
- Fatigue
These additional symptoms will appear and remain for a few days before the person experiences any swelling from parotitis. Orchitis, or inflammation of the testicles, is a common problem in older boys. Sterility is rare as a result of this.
Causes of Mumps
Mumps is caused by a virus that can easily transfer from one person to another via infected saliva. Mumps can be contracted if you are not immune by inhaling saliva droplets from an infected individual who has just sneezed or coughed. Mumps can also be contracted by sharing utensils or drinks with someone who has the disease.
Mumps can be spread in a variety of ways, including:
- Sneezing or coughing.
- Using the same cutlery and plates as an infected person.
- Sharing food and drink with someone infected.
- Kissing.
- An infected person touches their nose or mouth and then passes it onto a surface that someone else may touch.
The mumps virus infects people and makes them contagious for about 15 days (6 days before the symptoms start to show, and up to 9 days after they start). The mumps virus is a member of the paramyxovirus family, which is a major cause of infection in children.
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Prevention of Mumps?
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The mumps vaccination is the most effective way to prevent mumps; it can be purchased separately or as part of the MMR vaccine. The MMR vaccine protects against rubella and measles as well. The MMR vaccine is given to a newborn when they are just over a year old, and then again just before they start school as a booster.
Anyone born after the 1990s was almost certainly given the MMR vaccine, but it's always a good idea to double-check with a doctor if you're not sure. In 82 countries, children are routinely administered the mumps vaccine. Mumps-related encephalitis and deafness have practically vanished in several of these countries. An adult can be administered the MMR vaccine at any age, and a doctor may urge someone to get it before travelling to certain countries, such as:
- India
- Some parts of Africa
- Southeast Asia
- Japan
- Pakistan
- Other reasons someone may be advised to have the MMR vaccine in adulthood is if they are:
Another reason an adult may be advised to have the MMR vaccine is if they are:
- Working in the medical field, such as in a hospital or medical Centre.
- Working or attending a college with a large number of young people.
- Working in a school or proximity to a large number of children.
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Treatment for Mumps
Other than supportive therapy, there is no cure or treatment for this contagious disease. Because mumps is a viral infection, antibiotics are ineffective. The typical treatment for Mumps usually lasts 8-10 days. Mumps is commonly treated with the following methods:
- Get enough rest and sleep.
- To relieve pain, just a few painkillers are prescribed.
- Consultation with a medical professional regularly.
- To minimise swelling near the ear, ice packs are used.
- Ibuprofen is commonly recommended to lower a fever.
- To avoid uncomfortable chewing and swallowing, patients should eat soft and liquid foods such as soup, juices, custards, and yoghurt.
Points to Remember
Following are some important points:
- Tonsils are pushed to the side of the face when a person is infected with mumps.
- Mumps positive IgM antibody test, which emerges 4 days after the onset of symptoms and peaks at 1 week.
- Mumps infection can cause swelling of the ovaries in females.
- Mumps may lead to meningitis or encephalitis, two potentially fatal conditions if left untreated.
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Sample Questions
Ques: Can mumps be prevented? (3 Marks)
Ans: Mumps is a highly preventable disease thanks to the MMR (mumps, measles, and rubella) vaccine's efficiency. Mumps vaccinations are commonly given to children between the ages of 12 and 15 months, and then again between the ages of 4 and 6. Mumps is a rare disease in the United States, with only a few hundred cases reported each year. Despite this, epidemics occur often in the United States, particularly in settings where people come into close contacts, such as schools and dorms. As a result, getting your child vaccinated is critical to lowering his or her risk of catching the disease.
Ques: What are the complications associated with mumps? (3 Marks)
Ans: Mumps complications are uncommon, but if left untreated, they can be fatal. The parotid glands are the most commonly affected by mumps. It can, however, induce inflammation in other parts of the body as well, such as the brain and reproductive organs. Mumps can cause orchitis, which is an inflammation of the testicles. Place cold packs on the testicles many times a day to relieve orchitis pain. If required, your doctor may prescribe prescription-strength pain relievers. Orchitis can induce sterility in some people. Mumps infection can cause enlargement of the ovaries in females. The inflammation can be uncomfortable, but it does not affect a woman's eggs. A woman who develops mumps during pregnancy, on the other hand, has a higher-than-normal risk of miscarriage.
Ques: How is mumps diagnosed? (2 Marks)
Ans: The swollen salivary glands are generally enough for a doctor to diagnose mumps. A virus culture will be performed if the glands are not enlarged, and the doctor suspects mumps based on other symptoms. The inside of the face or throat is swabbed for a culture. The swab gathers mucus and cells, which are then sent to a lab for mumps virus testing. It's crucial to realise that salivary gland enlargement can be caused by a variety of viruses other than mumps.
Ques: What are the Home Remedies Implied to Cure Mumps? (5 Marks)
Ans: The following are some of the home remedies for mumps.
- To ease pain, add ginger to the child's diet or grind it into a paste and apply it to the swollen spot.
- A paste of fenugreek seeds applied to the affected area will also bring relief.
- When applied, a paste of black pepper and water can help to minimise oedema.
- Applying a mixture of turmeric and pure aloe vera gel to the affected regions will help ease pain and reduce swelling.
- To combat the infection and minimise swelling, apply a paste of neem leaves and turmeric powder to the affected area.
Ques: Who is most at risk of mumps? (2 Marks)
Ans: The sickness affects children the most. Children aged 15 and under account for over 90% of all mumps infections. If you weren't vaccinated as a youngster, it's becoming more usual for older teenagers and adults to have the mumps. Complications are frequently more severe when this occurs. Serious side effects are uncommon. Mumps, on the other hand, can cause viral meningitis if the virus spreads to the brain's outer layer.
Ques: Can mumps make you sterile? (2 Marks)
Ans: A little more than half of all guys who develop mumps-related orchitis detect some shrinkage of their testicles, and about one out of every ten men has their sperm count drop (the amount of healthy sperm their body can produce). However, it is extremely rare for this to be significant enough to cause infertility. Unilateral illness can reduce sperm count, motility, and morphology, but only for a short time. Fertility impairment is expected to affect roughly 13% of individuals, with infertility affecting 30% to 87% of people with bilateral mumps orchitis.
Ques: Can mumps cause brain damage? (2 Marks)
Ans: Mumps can induce encephalitis, a type of brain inflammation that can result in seizures or permanent brain damage. Mumps meningitis, an infection of the brain lining, affects about 1 in every 20 persons who get the mumps. Mumps can also make you deaf for a short period. Only about 1 in 20,000 persons who acquire mumps develop permanent deafness.
Ques: What are the 3 symptoms of mumps? (2 Marks)
Ans: Mumps is characterised by discomfort and swelling in the salivary glands, particularly in the jaw area. Other signs and symptoms include difficulty speaking and chewing, as well as earaches and fever. The purpose of treatment is to alleviate symptoms as much as possible. Rest, drinks, and acetaminophen may be used to alleviate pain.
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