West Central Reporter

McDonough District Hospital issued the following announcement on May 4.

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is reporting four laboratory-confirmed cases of the mumps among students at Western Illinois University's Macomb campus. The IDPH is working with WIU's Beu Health Center and the McDonough County Health Department to investigate and contain the cases. To date, all cases have been among Western Illinois University students. Student who have appeared, or are appearing, symptomatic have been/will be isolated for the required five-day isolation period following the onset of symptoms.

Here are some frequently asked questions about mumps, quick facts and additional prevention tips…

What causes mumps?

Mumps is caused by a virus.

How does mumps spread?

Mumps spreads from person to person via droplets of saliva or mucus from the mouth, nose, or throat of an infected person – usually when the person coughs, sneezes or talks. The virus may also be spread indirectly when someone with mumps touches items or surfaces without washing their hands and then someone else touches the same surface and rubs their mouth or nose. Mumps is less contagious than measles or chickenpox.

How long does it take to show signs of mumps after being exposed?

The incubation period of mumps is usually 16-18 days, but can range from 12-25 days.

What are the symptoms?

Individuals with mumps usually first feel sick with nonspecific symptoms like: headache, loss of appetite, and low-grade fever. The most well-known sign of mumps is parotitis, the swelling of the salivary glands (parotid glands), below the ear. Parotitis occurs only in 31-65 percent of individuals infected with mumps. From 15-27 percent of people with mumps have no signs or symptoms of illness; others may have respiratory symptoms or only nonspecific symptoms such as headache, loss of appetite and low-grade fever.

How serious is mumps?

In children, mumps is usually a mild disease. Adults may have more serious disease and more complications.

Is there a treatment?

There is no cure for mumps, only supportive treatment (bed rest, fluids and fever reduction). For concerns about symptoms or possible complications contact your physician.

Can someone get the mumps more than once?

People who have had the mumps are usually protected for life against another mumps infection. However, second occurrences of mumps do rarely occur.

Mumps Facts

The mumps are contagious for two days prior to parotid gland swelling and pain until five days after the symptoms develop. Therefore patients with mumps should remain in isolation for five days so that they do not infect others.

If you have already been exposed to mumps, getting a vaccine for measles mumps and rubella will not prevent development of mumps after you have already been exposed.

Mumps is a viral infection, antibiotics are not effective nor will any other treatment kill the mumps virus.

Treatment is supportive with Tylenol or ibuprofen to help with fever and pain.

Much like other viruses, the patient initially will present with fatigue, bodyaches, fever, and diminished appetite. The key finding of someone with mumps however, is that they have swelling of the parotid gland which is located in front of the ear by the jaw. If they do not have swelling of the parotid gland, they do not have the mumps.

Mumps infection typically will begin 12-25 days after being exposed to mumps virus.

People who have had two MMR vaccines typically will develop a more mild case of the mumps.

People who have mumps will generally recover within 1-2 weeks completely from their symptoms.

Complications from mumps are rare. About 3-10 percent of the time males can develop testicular pain. Less than 1 percent of the time patients could develop breast tenderness, ovarian pain, pancreatitis, meningitis, or deafness.

Reduce risk of developing mumps or other cold and flu viruses, patients can:

- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Please throw away the tissue after use.

- Wash your hands with soap and water, or with alcohol-based hand sanitizer after you cough or sneeze.

- Do not share eating or drinking utensils.

- Refrain from close contact with individuals who are sick or experiencing symptoms.

- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated and then proceeds to touch their nose or mouth.

Additional information can be found at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov/mumps.

Original source can be found here.