Mumps is a contagious
disease that is caused by the mumps
virus. Mumps typically starts with a few
days of fever, headache, muscle aches,
tiredness, and loss of appetite, and is
followed by swelling of salivary glands.
Anyone who is not immune from either
previous mumps infection or from
vaccination can get mumps.
Before the routine vaccination program
was introduced in the United States,
mumps was a common illness in infants,
children and young adults. Because most
people have now been vaccinated, mumps
has become a rare disease in the United
States.
Currently, there is no specific
treatment for mumps. Supportive care
should be given as needed. If someone
becomes very ill, they should seek
medical attention. If someone seeks
medical attention, they should call
their doctor in advance so that they
don't have to sit in the waiting room
for a long time and possibly infect
other patients. |
| |
|
|
