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Mumps

Mumps is an acute viral infection that primarily affects the parotid glands, one of three pairs of salivary glands, located in your cheek, near your jaw line, below your ears.

It highly contagious and is spread by mucus or droplets from the nose or throat of an infected person, usually when a person coughs or sneezes. People with swollen glands should be isolated for a period of at least 5 days.

Signs & Symptoms: appear 12-25 after exposure and can last 5-7 days.

• Fever
• Headache
• Muscle Aches
• Fatigue
• Loss of Appetite
• Swelling of Salivary Glands
• Swelling of the Brain
• Swelling of Testicles
• Swelling of Ovaries and Breasts
• Deafness

Prevention: It is easily prevented with the MMR vaccine. Two doses are recommended.

School age children in the State of Florida are required to be vaccinated for Measles. The vaccination is known as MMR because it is combined with Measles and Rubella.