Characteristics, Treatment, and Prevention of Mumps

742 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Mumps virus in history

Mumps, part of the Paramyxovirus family (Hunt, 2008) and also known as Epidemic parotitis (Medline Plus, n.d.), is a virus that has a worldwide distribution with humans being the only known reservoir (Chamberlain, 2013). Mumps are a viral infection that primarily affects the parotid glands, otherwise known as the salivary glands located below and in front of the ears (Mayo Clinic Staff, n.d.). Although swelling, also known as parotitis, is the most recognized symptom of mumps, it may only occur in approximately 30-40% of cases. Other patients may have non-specific symptoms, basically symptoms that are similar to other viruses. Up to 20% of infected individuals may experience no symptoms at all (The History of Vaccines, 2014).
Characteristics
Mumps are negative-sense RNA viruses with helical symmetry. They are enveloped and non-segmented (Hunt, 2008). This virus has been seen in approximately 95% of cases in children ranging in age from 15 years or younger (Chamberlain, 2013). Due to the mumps being primarily a childhood disease, about 50% of children contracted the disease prior to the introduction of the mumps vaccine (MMR – measles, mumps and rubella) in 1967 (Hunt, 2008).
When infected with this virus several other symptoms other than swelling may occur. Mumps is the leading cause of deafness and it also infects the central nervous system (CNS) resulting in aseptic meningitis and sometimes severe encephalitis with some cases being fatal (Hunt, 2008 & Chamberlain, 2013). It will cause temporary defects in immune response with fever of 103 F, trouble eating or drinking, perhaps confusion and disorientation, as well as abdominal pain (Hunt 2008).
Some people may experience weakness and fatigue or pain while chewing and swallowing ...

... middle of paper ...

...
Chamberlain, Ph.D., Neal R. (2013). Infections of the Mouth, Tongue, and Parotid Glands. Retrieved from http://www.atsu.edu/faculty/chamberlain/Website/lectures/lecture/mumps.htm
Hunt, Dr. Margaret (2008). Virology Chapter Fourteen Measles (Rubeola) and Mumps Viruses. Microbilogy and Immunology On-Line. Retrieved from http://pathmicro.med.sc.edu/mhunt/mump-meas.htm
Jack, Emily (2008). Diseases: A brief guide to causes, symptoms, history, and treatment. Retrieved from http://www.learnnc.org/lp/pages/4067
Mayo Clinic Staff (n.d.). Diseases and Conditions Mumps. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mumps/basics/definition/con-20019914 Medline Plus (n.d.). Mumps. Retreived from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001557.htm The History of Vaccines (2014). Mumps. Retreived from
http://www.historyofvaccines.org/content/articles/mumps

Show More
Related

  • Deborah Lee's Point Of View: Vaccines Save Lives

    802 Words  | 2 Pages

    The authors used a historical timeline to introduce a need. Stressing the number of lives lost allows the authors show the importance of vaccines. The repeated emphasis on those lives being the lives of children played on the emotions of readers. Once the need is established Lee and Carson-Dewitt clarify the use of “a dead or mild form of a virus” to create a vaccine (Lee, Carson-Dewitt, 2016, p.2). The distinction of the types of

    Read More

  • Antibiotic Resistance Case Study

    1099 Words  | 3 Pages

    Smith brings his 4-year-old to your office with chief complaints of right ear pain, sneezing, mild cough, and low-grade fever of 100 degrees for the last 72 hours. Today, the child is alert, cooperative, and well hydrated. You note a mildly erythemic throat with no exudate, both ears mild pink tympanic membrane with good movement, lungs clear. You diagnose an acute upper respiratory infection, probably viral in nature. Mr. Smith is states that the family is planning a trip out of town starting tomorrow and would like an antibiotic just in case.

    Read More

  • Mumps Virus

    715 Words  | 2 Pages

    Mumps is a paramyxovirus that is closely related to the parainfluenza virus. Its symptoms were first described in the 5th century BC, and it was a very common childhood affliction until the last several decades. It was identified as a virus in 1934, and an effective vaccine was developed in 1967. Mumps is acquired by aerosol, necessitating close human interaction for spread. Human beings are the only known reservoir for mumps virus, and there is only one serotype.

    Read More

  • Medicare and Medicaid

    1303 Words  | 3 Pages

    Retrieved August 20, 2010 from http://www.kff.org/healthreform/7920.cfm

    Read More

  • Tobacco Cigarettes vs. Electronic Cigarettes

    692 Words  | 2 Pages

    U.S. National Library of Medicine, 26 Sept. 2011. Web. The Web. The Web. 19 Nov. 2013.

    Read More

  • Vaccines

    3097 Words  | 7 Pages

    Vaccines have been developed to prevent the spread of diseases that have serious effects on the world’s population. The more individuals that go unvaccinated the greater the chance that these diseases, that are easily preventable, are spread.

    Read More

  • Should Child Vaccinations be Mandatory?

    1230 Words  | 3 Pages

    Vaccinations have significantly reduced the disease rate throughout the world. Usually, vaccines prove to be between 90 and 99 percent effective. This reduces disease and mortality rate by thousands every year (Jolley and Douglas 1). On average, vaccines save the lives of 33,000 innocent children every year (“Vaccines” 1). In addition, if a vaccinated child did contract the vaccine’s targeted illness, that child would, in general, have more mild symptoms than an unvaccinated child that contracts the same illness. These vaccinated children will have less serious complications if they do contract the disease; they will be much more treatable, and have a lower risk of death (Jolley and Douglas 2). The risks of not vaccinating greatly outweigh the small risks of vaccination. Diseases like measles and mumps can cause permanent disability. While there i...

    Read More

  • Measles

    345 Words  | 1 Pages

    Measles usually ends with a complete recovery, but some rare complications can occur with the lungs and brain. Measles might also be linked with multiple sclerosis and diabetes.

    Read More

  • Why Vaccines Should Be Mandatory Essay

    768 Words  | 2 Pages

    Now it is rare for a child to get the measles. The decline in the disease has been attributed to vaccinations and their high success rate. According to ‘Childhood Vaccinations are Important for Public Health”, “by vaccinating we will make sure these 14 diseases will not become everyday events for our children.”. There are quite a few reasons why parents should not vaccinate their children. Some believe that it will cause harm to their children because of rumors.

    Read More

  • Setting S.M.A.R.T. Goals to Achieve your Dreams

    1348 Words  | 3 Pages

    Cohen, S. (2013, January). Student Health 101 @ Ashford University. Retrieved April 1, 2014, from http://readsh101.com/ashfordu.html?id=ec8bd17d

    Read More

  • Edible Vaccines

    1600 Words  | 4 Pages

    Today eighty percent of infants are being vaccinated for diphtheria; pertussis (whooping cough), polio, measles, tetanus and tuberculosis (Landrige 2000). This percentage is up from about five percent in the mid-1970s; however, the death toll from these infections is roughly three million annually. Millions still die from infectious diseases for which immunizations are non-existent, unreliable, or too costly. Vaccines all function with the same idea in mind, priming the immune system to swiftly destroy specific disease-causing agents, or pathogens, before the agents can multiply enough to cause symptoms (Landrige 2000). Classically, this priming has been achieved by presenting the immune system with whole viruses or bacteria that have been killed or made too weak to proliferate much (Landrige 2000).

    Read More

  • The Culture of African Cuisine

    975 Words  | 2 Pages

    WHO, W. H. (2008). Tradtional Medicine. available at http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs134/en/ retrieved on 9-11-11 at 10:30 pm.

    Read More

  • Essay On Otitis Media

    1351 Words  | 3 Pages

    Otitis media, commonly known as an ear infection, is an infection located in the middle ear, commonly diagnosed in children. In 2006, approximately nine million children (age zero to seventeen) were reported to have otitis media, while medical costing to treat otitis media peaked at $2.8 billion dollars (Soni, 2008). Costing and statistics of otitis media will continue at the increasing rate due to the commonality of the infection. As a result of increasing cases of otitis media, an understanding of the disease’s classifications, causes, symptoms, diagnostic tests, and treatments will inform one of the diseases presences.

    Read More

  • Is Suicide the Solution?

    1534 Words  | 4 Pages

    Ed. David Zieve. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 26 Feb. 2014. Web. The Web.

    Read More

  • Food and Nutrition

    1454 Words  | 3 Pages

    "MedlinePlus - Health Information from the National Library of Medicine." National Library of Medicine - National Institutes of Health. Web. 06 Mar. 2011.

    Read More

More about Characteristics, Treatment, and Prevention of Mumps

Open Document