eMedicine Specialties > Pediatrics: General Medicine > Infectious Disease
Mumps: Treatment & Medication
Updated: Nov 20, 2009
- Overview
- Differential Diagnoses & Workup
- Treatment & Medication
- Follow-up
- Multimedia
Treatment
Medical Care
- Conservative therapy is indicated in patients with mumps.
- Generous offering of fluids is essential because adequate hydration and alimentation of patients is important.
- Foods and liquids that contain acid may cause swallowing difficulty as well as gastric irritation.
- Prescribe analgesics for severe headaches or discomfort due to parotitis. In orchitis, stronger analgesics may be needed.
- No antiviral agent is indicated for mumps, which is a self-limited disease.
Consultations
- Consultation may be considered in complicated cases with multiple organ system involvement.
Diet
- A light diet with generous fluid intake is recommended.
- Avoiding acid-containing foods (eg, tomato, vinegar-containing food additives) and liquids (eg, orange juice) are beneficial to reduce pain.
Activity
- Bed rest is recommended for a faster recovery and is needed for patients with complicated cases.
Medication
Analgesics
These agents may be prescribed for severe headaches or discomfort due to parotitis. In orchitis, stronger analgesics may be needed.
Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
DOC for patients with mild-to-moderate pain and fever. Inhibits inflammatory reactions and pain by decreasing prostaglandin synthesis.
Adult
200-400 mg PO q4-6h while symptoms persist; not to exceed 3.2 g/d
Pediatric
10 mg/kg/dose q8h prn for relief of pain/fever; not to exceed 2.4 g/d
Coadministration with aspirin increases risk of inducing serious NSAID-related side effects; probenecid may increase concentrations and, possibly, toxicity of NSAIDs; may decrease effect of hydralazine, captopril, and beta-blockers; may decrease diuretic effects of furosemide and thiazides; monitor PT closely (instruct patients to watch for signs of bleeding); may increase risk of methotrexate toxicity; phenytoin levels may be increased when administered concurrently
Documented hypersensitivity; peptic ulcer disease; recent GI bleeding or perforation; renal insufficiency; high risk of bleeding
Pregnancy
B - Fetal risk not confirmed in studies in humans but has been shown in some studies in animals
Precautions
Category D in third trimester of pregnancy; caution in congestive heart failure, hypertension, and decreased renal and hepatic function; caution in anticoagulation abnormalities or during anticoagulant therapy
Acetaminophen (Tylenol, Tempra)
DOC for pain in patients with documented hypersensitivity to NSAIDs, with upper GI disease, or who are taking PO anticoagulants. Reduces fever by acting directly on hypothalamic heat-regulating centers, which increases dissipation of body heat via vasodilation and sweating.
Adult
325-650 mg PO q4-6h or 1000 mg tid/qid; not to exceed 4 g/d
Pediatric
15 mg/kg/dose q4-6h prn for relief of pain/fever; not to exceed 2.6 g/d
Rifampin can reduce analgesic effects of acetaminophen; coadministration with barbiturates, carbamazepine, hydantoins, and isoniazid may increase hepatotoxicity
Documented hypersensitivity; known G-6-P deficiency
Pregnancy
B - Fetal risk not confirmed in studies in humans but has been shown in some studies in animals
Precautions
Hepatotoxicity possible in people with long-term alcoholism following various dose levels; severe or recurrent pain or high or continued fever may indicate a serious illness; APAP is contained in many OTC products, and combined use with these products may result in cumulative APAP doses exceeding recommended maximum dose
Vaccines (measles, mumps, rubella)
Prevention of mumps through immunization cannot be overemphasized. All children younger than 7 years should receive the mumps vaccine. In the United States, mumps vaccine is recommended and is usually combined with MMR.
Measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (M-M-R)
Live virus vaccine. Combined MMR vaccine is recommended for the prevention of mumps, measles, and rubella. For children, the typical recommended 2 dose schedule is administered at age 12-15 mo for the 1st dose and the second dose at 4-6 y of age.
Adult
0.5 mL SC in outer aspect of upper arm
Adults in 1957 or after should receive one dose of MMR unless they have a medical contraindication, history of mumps, laboratory evidence of immunity
A second dose is recommended for adults in an age group affected during a mumps outbreak, students in postsecondary educational institutions, work in a health care facility, or for international travel
Pediatric
0.5 mL SC in outer aspect of upper arm
Administer 1st dose between age 12-15 mo; administer the 2nd dose between age 4-6 y
Patients receiving immunosuppressants, including corticosteroids or radiation therapy, may remain susceptible despite immunization because of poor immune response
Documented hypersensitivity
Pregnancy
X - Contraindicated; benefit does not outweigh risk
Precautions
Fever, rash, lymphadenopathy, parotitis, allergic reactions, thrombocytopenia, arthralgia, arthritis, and persistent or recurrent arthropathy; interference with tuberculin skin tests; contraception in females is advised for 3 mo following immunization; not indicated for immunocompromised patients
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Treatment & Medication: Mumps |
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References
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[Guideline] Watson JC, Hadler SC, Dykewicz CA, et al. Measles, mumps, and rubella--vaccine use and strategies for elimination of measles, rubella, and congenital rubella syndrome and control of mumps: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR - Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report. May 22 1998;47(RR-8):1-57. [Medline].
Hopkins RS, Jajosky RA, Hall PA, et al. Summary of notifiable diseases--United States, 2003. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. Apr 22 2005;52(54):1-85. [Medline].
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WHO. Global status of mumps immunization and surveillance. Wkly Epidemiol Rec. Dec 2 2005;80(48):418-24. [Medline].
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Shanley JD. The resurgence of mumps in young adults and adolescents. Cleve Clin J Med. Jan 2007;74(1):42-4, 47-8. [Medline].
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AAP. Mumps. In: Red Book: Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases. 26th ed. Elk Grove, IL: American Academy of Pediatrics; 2003:439-43.
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Chaiken BP, Williams NM, Preblud SR, et al. The effect of a school entry law on mumps activity in a school district. JAMA. May 8 1987;257(18):2455-8. [Medline].
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McQuone SJ. Acute viral and bacterial infections of the salivary glands. Otolaryngologic Clinics of North America. Oct. 1999;32(5):793-811. [Medline].
Ornoy A, Tenenbaum A. Pregnancy outcome following infections by coxsackie, echo, measles, mumps, hepatitis, polio and encephalitis viruses. Reprod Toxicol. May 2006;21(4):446-57. [Medline].
Sosin DM, Cochi SL, Gunn RA, et al. Changing epidemiology of mumps and its impact on university campuses. Pediatrics. Nov 1989;84(5):779-84. [Medline].
Taber LH, Demmler GJ. Mumps. In: McMillan JA, DeAngelis CD, Feigin R, Warshaw JB, eds. Oski's Pediatrics. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 1999:1141-2.
van Loon FP, Holmes SJ, Sirotkin BI, Williams WW, Cochi SL, Hadler SC. Mumps surveillance--United States, 1988-1993. MMWR CDC Surveill Summ. Aug 11 1995;44(3):1-14. [Medline].
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Further Reading
Keywords
mumps, parotitis, epidemic parotiditis, measles-mumps-rubella vaccine, MMR vaccine, mumps virus, mumps encephalitis, meningitis, transient myelitis, polyneuritis, oophoritis, myocarditis, nephritis, arthritis, thyroiditis, pancreatitis, thrombocytopenia purpura, mastitis, pneumonia, parotitis, orchitis, meningoencephalitis
Treatment & Medication: Mumps