Classification of Mumps
Mumps is an extremely contagious viral infection that usually affects children. An acute infectious and contagious disease are caused my Mumps viruses. The mumps virus is part of the paramyxovirus family, which is a widespread cause of infection, especially in children. Their scientific name is Epidemic parotitis.
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Diagram
Host
Mumps affects the parotid glands, salivary glands below
and in front of the ears. It causes your cheeks and neck to
swell.
and in front of the ears. It causes your cheeks and neck to
swell.
What causes mumps and how are they transmitted?
A person suffers mumps when infected with the mumps virus. It can be transmitted via respiratory secretions from a person already affected with the condition. When contracting mumps, the virus travels from the respiratory tract to the salivary glands and reproduces, causing the glands to swell. Examples of how it can be spread are:
- sneezing or coughing
- using the same plates with someone infected
- sharing food and drink with someone infected
- kissing
- someone infected touching their nose or mouth and then passing it onto a surface someone else may touch
Symptoms
The symptoms of mumps normally appear 2-3 weeks after the patient has been infected, however almost 20% of people with the virus do not suffer any signs or symptoms at all.
The main symptom of mumps is painful and swollen parotid (salivary) glands, which cause the person's cheeks to puff out. Other symptoms can include:
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How can mumps be Prevented??
The mumps vaccine is the general method for preventing mumps; it can come on its own or as part of the MMR vaccine. The MMR vaccine also defends the body from rubella and measles. The MMR vaccine is given to an infant when they are just over one year old and again as a booster just before they start school. Anyone born after the 90s would most probably have been given the MMR vaccine.
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