Mumps
Questionnaire/history:
Close contact with possible case of mumps (up to 4 weeks prior to onset of symptoms)?
- In the same room for 15 minutes?
- Face-to-face contact?
- Localised outbreak of mumps?
- Recent foreign travel?
Swollen parotid glands (in 95% of symptomatic cases)?
- Bilateral?
- Unilateral (25%)?
Associated symptoms?
- Earache?
- Difficult pronouncing words or chewing?
- Headache?
- Malaise?
- Muscle ache?
- Loss of appetite?
- Low grade fever?
Complications?
- Abrupt painful swelling of testicle (?epididymo-orchitis)?
- Nausea, vomiting and lower abdominal pain (?oophoritis)?
- Fever, vomiting, neck stiffness and lethargy (?meningitis)?
- Deafness (rarely)?
- Upper abdominal discomfort (?pancreatitis)?
Past medical history (eg mumps)?
Current medication?
Drug allergy?
Immunisation history (eg 2 doses of MMR)?
Examination:
Swollen parotid glands (in 95% of symptomatic cases)?
- Bilateral?
- Unilateral (25%)?
- Tender ear lobe defected upward and outward?
Management:
Notified local Health Protection Team (HPT) to arrange a testing kit (oral fluid (saliva) swab) IgM testing for confirmation and surveillance purposes
Advised:
- Usually a self-limiting condition, which resolves over 1–2 weeks with no long-term consequences
- Antibiotic treatment is not required
- To rest
- To drink adequate fluids
- Paracetamol or ibuprofen for symptomatic relief
- To apply warm or cold packs to the parotid gland as it may ease discomfort
- To stay off school or work for 5 days after the initial development of parotitis
- To seek urgent medical advice if signs of a complication (eg severe headache, vomiting, neck stiffness, altered consciousness or convulsions or swollen painful testicle)
Offered MMR vaccination for those who had significant contact with possible mumps case if appropriate
Advised to seek medical advice if new or worsening symptoms, no improvement or ongoing symptoms after 1 week
Reference(s):
NICE CKS: Mumps
Information for patient/carer(s):
NHS: Mumps
Patient UK: Mumps