AKT · Child health/Infection & rashlow yield

Mumps

Mumps virus (paramyxovirus)

Overview

A notifiable viral infection, resurgent where MMR uptake is low, classically causing PAROTITIS (parotid gland swelling). Complications — orchitis, viral meningitis, pancreatitis and deafness — are the high-yield part.

Recognise

Prodrome of fever/malaise then PAROTID swelling (bilateral in ~70%), earache, pain on eating
Orchitis (post-pubertal males — testicular pain/swelling, rare infertility)
Aseptic meningitis, pancreatitis, transient/rarely permanent sensorineural deafness

Red flags

Orchitis, meningitis/encephalitis, pancreatitis, sudden deafness

Differentials & how to tell them apart

Bacterial parotitisunilateral, tender, purulent duct discharge, systemically unwell

Cervical lymphadenitisnode behind/below the jaw, not the parotid (angle of jaw obscured in mumps)

Blocked salivary duct (stone)pain on eating, no systemic viral illness

EBV (glandular fever)tonsillar exudate, lymphadenopathy, atypical lymphocytes

Investigations

Clinical; confirm with oral fluid/serum mumps IgM and RNA. NOTIFIABLE — inform UKHSA.

Management

Supportive care (notifiable; prevent with MMR)

1Notify. Supportive care — analgesia, fluids, rest. Exclude from school for 5 days after parotid swelling onset.
2Manage complications (orchitis — analgesia/support; meningitis — admit). Prevention is MMR vaccination.

Supportive — analgesia, fluids, rest; no specific antiviral

MMR vaccine — prevention (two doses)

Key points

Parotid swelling obscures the angle of the jaw (vs cervical nodes). Orchitis is the classic post-pubertal complication; bilateral orchitis rarely affects fertility. MMR prevents it.

Monitor & prognosis

Complications (testicular, neurological, hearing); contacts.

Usually self-limiting; complications occasionally serious.

Source: NICE CKS Mumps; UKHSA; QuackQuackMed cross-check