Mumps Essay, Research Paper

Mumps

Mumps is a disease caused by a virus and occurs only in human beings.

Mumps is found all over the world. Mumps is a contagious disease when the

salivary glands, on one or both sides of the jaw, swells. Mumps usually occurs

in school age children, but young adults may catch the disease. Everyone born

before1957 has already had mumps. After one attack of mumps, you will have

lifelong immunity. The mumps virus is spread by contact of another person’s

discharge from the nose or mouth. The virus is present in these discharges from

six days before symptoms to nine days after the glands begin to swell. The virus

will then incubate for two to three weeks before symptoms appear.

Symptoms include headaches, jaw being painful and tender to the touch,

fever, and difficulty swallowing. The swelling usually disappears after seven

to ten days. Some complications includedeafness (usually only in one ear),

arthritis, meningitis (inflammation of brain membranes) and pancreatitis

(inflammation of the pancreas). One of every four male adults with the virus

will develop orchtis,which is inflammation of the testes. Sometimes females

will have inflammation of the ovaries. Extremely rare cases will result in

sterility. Mumps is diagnosed by symptoms, but a blood, urine or saliva test

can confirm that you have the virus. Treatment of the virus includes diet of

soft foods, bed rest, and pain relievers. The mumps vaccine is given to

children that are about twelve months old. The vaccine is usually conbined with

measles and rubella vaccines, which is called the MMR vaccine.