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Children's health

Is it mumps?

14 replies

toffeeapple · 05/02/2009 10:27

Hi, I don't seem to be able to get a straight forward answer out of anyone I ask, so here I am:
Can my 4.5 year old DD have mumps even though she has had the MMR Vaccine?
She developped a really swollen neck (on each side right under the ears, where the lymph glands are), and she has a really really bad cold.
The doctor had a look at her and he said her throat was fine, but that her ears were slightly pink, so in case she developped an ear infection he gave me some antibiotics (which I am to get only if she starts complaining about her ears). He reckons it's the lymph glands which are swelling to try and fight the infection.
But I never thought to ask him about mumps, and he didn't mention it.
I also thought it could be her teeth coming through as she still has 4 molars to come through, would that make her neck swell?
Thank you in advance!!

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belgo · 05/02/2009 10:30

I wouldn't have thought it was the teeth.

It is possible to catch mumps despite having mmr, but I would have thought that the doctor would recognise mumps. I would probably listen to the doctor -- lymph glands swelling due to an infection.

Can you control her symptoms with calpol and children's ibruprofen?

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pagwatch · 05/02/2009 10:33

swelling of the glands in the neck is entirely possible with an infection.
I had the mumps and the swelling was visible without having to look for it IYSWIM - if you are having to feel for swellingthen it probably isn't.

The vaccine is not effective for 10% of children so entirely possible that it is the mumps. Children who have had the MMR have been some ofthe children in recent measles outbreaks.

I would go with the Dr unless she starts to look like a hamster.
( my mum has some very funny picture. Me and two of my sibs had it at the same time. Its like a bedfull of bulldogs)

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toffeeapple · 05/02/2009 10:37

I don't think there is anything I can do about the swelling to be honest, I have given her Children's ibuprofen (as it's an "anti inflammatory") but it hasn't done anything.
The swelling doesn't appear to be tender as she didn't say anything when the doctor probed her.
The reason why I thought of Mumps is because I read on the internet that some people might have very mild symptoms, and not all of the symptoms as well. I'd never realised that lymph glands could make the neck swell so much, it gives her that "hamster like" appearance (a cute hamster mind! )

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toffeeapple · 05/02/2009 10:39

Oh my god!!! I was writing this while you were writing your message pagwatch!!
She has mumps doesn't she!! You definately don't have to feel the swelling, it shows straight away!!
Oh my god, what shall I do?

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belgo · 05/02/2009 10:40

Does she have a temperature that you can control with ibruprofen? Does the ibroprofen make her feel better even if it doesn't visibly reduce the swelling?

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toffeeapple · 05/02/2009 10:42

No she does not have a temperature. The only thing she's complaining about is her blocked and runny nose.

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belgo · 05/02/2009 10:44

I think generally the swelling with mumps is very painful.

If you really think it is mumps, phone back your GP and ask.

It's good that she doesn't have a temperature.

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pagwatch · 05/02/2009 10:45

toffee
please don't panic. As I said all my sibs and i had mumps and i just felt a bit grotty. Go back to the Doctor if you are unsure but it is normally a mild illness - especially in girls.
Really no need to panic

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toffeeapple · 05/02/2009 11:01

No you're right, the worst thing I can do is panick but: I have a son, and I know that if a boy catches it it's another story.
He has had the MMR as well (he's only 23 months).
I had mumps as a child and I was in terrible pain.

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bubbleymummy · 05/02/2009 12:34

toffeeapple - don't panic about your son. Male infertility from mumps only occurs in a very small number of post-adolescent males - ~NOT CHILDREN. Hope your daughter feels better son.

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bubbleymummy · 05/02/2009 12:35

oops - feels better soon.

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bubbleymummy · 05/02/2009 12:35

oops - feels better soon.

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toffeeapple · 05/02/2009 14:00

Oh I see I feel quite silly now!
Now I'm even wondering if it's mumps at all or if it's just my imagination.
Her glands look big even without feeling them, but her face isn't.
Oh well, we'll see. Thank you all of you for your word of reasurance.

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loler · 05/02/2009 14:31

My ds get really swollen glands below his ears very regularly (they look like golf balls!) - he normally has it with a throat infection.

two seperate gps have said that this sort of swelling is generally caused by a throat infection or an infection that has entered through a cut.

If she's already seen a gp and isn't feeling poorly I would just wait and see what happens.

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