II. Epidemiology
- Peak Age 10-19 years
-
Incidence
- U.S. Cases in 1968: 152,000 cases
- U.S. Cases in 2000: 338 cases
- U.S. Cases in 2015: 1057 cases
III. Pathophysiology
- Caused by a paramyxovirus
- Transmission: 2 days before parotid swelling, to 5 days after
- Transmitted easily by airborne droplet spread (Saliva or nasal secretions)
- Also transmitted in urine
- Incubation: 12-25 days (typically 16-18 days)
- Infectious:
- Start: 6 days before Parotitis
- Ends: 2 weeks after symptom onset
IV. Symptoms
- Subclinical presentation in 20-40% of cases
- Prodrome (onset after 12-25 day Incubation Period)
- Sudden onset pain, swelling, tenderness in cheeks at Parotid Gland lasting >2 days
- Starts as unilateral and becomes bilateral in 90% of cases
- Provoked by chewing or Swallowing
- Worse with sour foods or acidic foods
- Associated Symptoms
V. Signs
-
Sialadenitis
-
Parotitis occurs in 30-40% of patients
- Submandibular and Sublingual Glands may also become inflamed and tender in 10% of cases
- Typically bilateral involvement (but may start unilaterally)
- Skin over Parotid Gland not warm or red
- Contrast with Bacterial Sialadenitis
- Tenderness and swelling at mandibular angle (may obscure angle of jaw)
- Parotid duct (Stensen duct) opening appears red and edematous in Buccal mucosa
-
Parotitis occurs in 30-40% of patients
-
Orchitis (3-10% of postpubertal males, up to 40% of males overall)
- Occurs 7-10 days after Parotitis
- Maculopapular rash
- Variably present
- May develop over the trunk
VI. Complications
-
Orchitis (40% of cases)
- See signs (as above)
- Testicular Atrophy (50%)
- Bilateral Orchitis in 30% of cases
- Infertility (13% of cases)
- Highest risk if bilateral involvement
-
Central Nervous System Involvement
- Asymptomatic Cerebrospinal Fluid Leukocytosis (50%)
- Less common causes
- Encephalitis (1 case per 400 to 6000 Mumps cases)
- Mortality: 1-2% death rate from Encephalitis
- Consider for high fever, Headache, neck stiffness or Seizures
- Aseptic Meningitis (10% of cases)
- Typically benign, but some will develop severe neurologic complications
- Paralytic Polio-like syndrome
- Transverse Myelitis
- Cerebellar Ataxia
- Encephalitis (1 case per 400 to 6000 Mumps cases)
- Miscellaneous
- Deafness (<1% in the post-Vaccine era)
- Oophoritis (ovarian inflammation)
- May present similarly to Appendicitis
- Subacute Thyroiditis
- Dacryoadenitis
- Optic Neuritis
- Iritis
- Conjunctivitis
- Myocarditis
- Pancreatitis (usually uncomplicated)
- Hepatitis
- Nephritis
- Mastitis
- ThrombocytopeniaPurpura
- Interstitial Pneumonia
- Migratory polyarthritis
VII. Labs: General
-
Complete Blood Count
- Parotitis: Relative Lymphocytosis
- Orchitis: Marked Leukocytosis
- Serum Amylase increased (in Parotitis)
- Cerebrospinal Fluid
- White Blood Cells: 1000-2000 with Neutrophils
VIII. Diagnosis: Culture, IgG, and IgM should all be done
- Mumps PCR buccal swab
- Sample from respiratory secretions, urine or CSF
- Culture
- Obtain sample within first 5 days of Parotitis
- Blood, Throat, CSF, Urine
- Immunofluorescence positive in 2-3 days
-
Serology
- Mumps IgM
- Positive after day 3 of swelling
- Titers peak by one week
- Mumps IgG
- Obtain acute baseline Mumps IgG as soon as possible
- Check Mumps IgG again 3-5 weeks after onset
- Titer increases 4 fold
- Mumps IgM
IX. Management
-
Parotitis
- Avoid sour or acidic foods
-
Orchitis
- Scrotal support
- NSAIDs
- Consider Interferon alpha 2b
- Reduces testicular atrophy and Infertility risk
-
Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG) Indicated for specific autoimmune complications
- Guillain-Barre Syndrome
- Idiopathic Thrombocytopenia
- Post-Infectous Encephalitis
- NOT indicated in Postexposure Prophylaxis (not effective)
- Consider MMR Vaccine dose for contagious contacts who have been previously vaccinated (2 prior MMR doses)
- Consider third dose MMR Vaccine which may help prevent mumps infection during an outbreak
- Immunoglobulin is not effective for Post-exposure Prophylaxis
- Suspected cases
- Report to local public health department
- Follow standard isolation with droplet precautions (respiratory and Saliva sources) while in hospital
- Quarantine patient for 2 days before until 5 days after parotid swelling onset
X. Prevention
-
MMR Vaccine
- MMR Vaccine is contraindicated in pregnancy and Immunocompromised patients (Live Vaccine)
- MMR Vaccine is indicated for all children in U.S. at 12-15 months and 4-6 years (Primary Series)
- Effective at preventing mumps in 88% of immunized patients (78% after the first dose)
- Antibody levels wane over time (esp. elderly), and may present atypically with mumps
- Immunize unvaccinated contacts (if not contraindicated) to prevent future cases
- However not effective for the index case Postexposure Prophylaxis
- Immune globulin is also NOT effective for Postexposure Prophylaxis
XI. Prognosis
- Mortality: Up to 50 deaths per 1 million Mumps cases
XII. Resources
XIII. References
- Harrison and Ruttan (2019) Crit Dec Emerg Med 33(7): 3-12
- Harrison and Ruttan (2023) Crit Dec Emerg Med 38(2): 23-31
- Spencer (2017) Am Fam Physician 95(12): 786-94 [PubMed]