If your child has either had mumps or has received (he mumps vaccine when he/she was 15 months of age or older, the chance of him/her developing mumps is extremely low. If, however, your child has not had mumps and has not been vaccinated. Then it is quite possible that he/she may get mumps.
Mumps is a viral infection. Symptoms include fever, headache, and swelling of cheek and jaw. Meningitis (inflammation of the covering of the brain) can occur but usually resolves without problems. More rarely encephalitis (inflammation of the brain itself) and deafness can occur in adolescent and adult males mumps can cause inflammation of the testicles (orchitis), but. contrary to popular belief it is not a frequent cause of infertility.
Mumps in early pregnancy is associated with an increase in miscarriage.. Children are infectious for up to 7 days before the cheek swelling appears and remain infectious for 9 days after symptoms develop
Symptoms can develop from 12 to 25 days after exposure.
If your child has either received mumps vaccine or has had mumps there is no need for concern. If your child has not received the vaccine and has not had mumps, then you should bring them to the Doctor for vaccination. The vaccine will not protect them if they have been exposed this time. but will protect them from future exposures.
If your child develops swelling of the cheeks and jawline bring them to your Doctor for examination. He/she will be able to tell you if it looks like mumps and will advise you what to do. There is no specific treatment for mumps.
To prevent, spread of mumps to others, your child must stay at home for 9 days after the symptoms develop.
Anyone who has neither had mumps nor received mumps vaccine should go to their family doctor for vaccination.