Mumps has become a rare infection, but while the disease is most often benign, it can sometimes cause complications. There is an effective means of prevention: vaccination.

HOW IS THE MUMPS VIRUS TRANSMITTED AND ACT?

"Mumps" is a highly contagious viral disease caused by the so-called mumps virus. The virus is transmitted through the air, by tiny droplets that we emit when talking, laughing or coughing. In a sick person, these droplets can be loaded with virus and contaminate those around us. The virus can also be present on surfaces soiled by the nasal secretions of a sick person. The mumps virus enters through the respiratory tract, then spreads through the bloodstream. It particularly affects the parotids, which are salivary glands located behind the jaw, under the ears. Extra-salivary glands can also be affected: such as the testicles and the pancreas. The virus can also be located in the nervous system. Mumps virus infection provides lifelong immunity.

IS THE DISEASE COMMON?

Mumps was a very common disease until the expansion of vaccination significantly reduced the number of cases in France: from nearly 500,000 cases per year in 1986, we have dropped to fewer than 6,000 cases currently, most often in people who have not been vaccinated or who have been incorrectly vaccinated.

HOW DOES THE DISEASE MANIFEST ITSELF?

The incubation period is approximately 3 weeks between contact with the virus and the first signs of the disease. Fever, headache, body aches and ear pain first appear. Then, within a few hours, a painful swelling occurs under one ear at the corner of the lower jaw. The other side is also quickly affected. Eating is difficult because chewing and swallowing are painful. In 20 to 30% of cases, the disease goes unnoticed.

HOW IS IT TREATED?

There is no treatment for mumps as such. However, a few simple measures can relieve the pain: blend food, give something to drink and avoid acidic fruit juices, and calm fever and pain with painkillers. The disease heals spontaneously.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF SOMEONE IN MY AREA IS AFFECTED?

The patient is contagious 7 days before the first signs appear and the rest 9 days after. If you are well vaccinated or if you have already had mumps, you do not need to take any special precautions, you are protected. Otherwise, it is necessary to respect hygiene measures to limit the spread of the virus (hand washing, single-use tissues, washing contaminated surfaces). If your child is affected, he or she should be kept away from school for 9 days after the onset of parotitis.

CAN MUMPS CAUSE COMPLICATIONS?

The disease is most often benign.

However, involvement of certain extra-salivary glands can give rise to complications. In particular, after puberty, in adolescents and young adults, orchitis (inflammation of the testicle) can occur: the testicle enlarges and becomes painful. Both testicles can be affected. Healing is generally achieved in 8 to 10 days.

Testicular atrophy in the following 2 to 6 months is very rare and for there to be an impact on fertility (subfertility or sterility), bilateral testicular atrophy would be required, which is exceptional.

Less often than the testicle, the pancreas can also be affected (pancreatitis due to inflammation of the pancreas), an infection that results in abdominal pain. The outcome is most often favorable.

The nervous system can also be affected with the occurrence of meningitis (usually without symptoms) or encephalitis (exceptional).

It is therefore necessary to monitor the possible appearance of signs of complications: fever above 40°, stiff neck, headaches, abdominal pain, testicular pain. These signs should lead you to consult your doctor again.

When mumps occurs during the first trimester of pregnancy, it can cause a spontaneous abortion.

HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM THE DISEASE?

The best prevention remains vaccination. It is practiced with the MMR vaccine (Measles-Mumps-Rubella), mandatory for all children from 12 months with a booster between 16 and 18 months.

People born after 1980 should all have received 2 doses of vaccines.

If this is not the case for you or your children, a "catch-up" is possible.

As for those born before 1980, they can also be vaccinated if they have not been vaccinated, if they have not had mumps and if they live in a "risky" environment, for example in contact with children. On the other hand, the “Post-exposure” vaccination, carried out after contact with an infected person, is not effective in preventing the onset of the disease (the body’s immunological response is too slow).

IS THE VACCINE RISK-FREE?

Serious complications are extremely rare. As with all vaccines, it is possible to see a local reaction at the injection site, or a fever or rash 7 to 12 days after the injection. The vaccine does not contain aluminum or mercury and can be received by people allergic to egg.

An article published in 1998 reported a possible link between autism and the MMR vaccine. Many other studies conducted since then have firmly contradicted this association. Several of the authors of the 1998 study have themselves reversed their conclusions.
Vaccination against mumps has led to a considerable reduction in the number of cases in France. The majority of diagnosed cases occur in people who have not been or have not been properly vaccinated, demonstrating that compliance with vaccination recommendations with the 2-dose schedule is essential to ensure effective protection.