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Children's health

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Original poster

Anyone know anything about mumps?

11 replies

tutu100 · 04/04/2010 18:50

We rushed ds2 to the hospital this morning worried he was having an allergic reaction to something as one side of his face and neck swelled up. The hospital said it wasn't an allergic reaction and as he has white nodules on his tonsils they think it's some kind of throat infection and let us go home.

Anyway they did say there was a tiny chance it could be mumps even though ds2 has had his MMR. Throughout the day the swelling has continued and looks awful and we have googled pictures of mumps and his swelling looks exactly like those pictures.

Does anyone know anything about mumps? Or how likely it is that a child could get it even if they've had the MMR? Ds2 is well in himself a little crabbier than normal, but no tempreture.

OP posts:

Elibean · 04/04/2010 19:14

Poor ds, though good he's ok in himself...sounds like positive sign. I had mumps twice (once on one side, two weeks later on the other) in pre-MMR days, and its pretty painful. It hurt a lot to swallow, IIRC, and I felt pretty miserable.

I think I remember the doctor then saying it was very rare to get it on one side and not both, so doesn't sound very likely for your ds...still, would think another day or so would make for a clearer picture.

If his breathing and swallowing aren't affected, and he's eating/drinking ok, hopefully it'll just be a viral infection and go away soon - but if it gets worse, or he can't swallow or starts ruhning a fever, I'd go back for more advice. Good luck!

Original poster

tutu100 · 04/04/2010 19:31

Thank you. Just can't believe it could be mumps. Worried if it is as I have had MMR, but dp hasn't.

OP posts:

JollyPirate · 04/04/2010 19:34

Hello tutu - while the MMR is very good a small percentage of children do not achieve immunity to all three illnesses. This is why there is a pre-school booster. A bit crap for you but if this IS mumps then he will be well immune and the pre-school booster won't add anything to that.

Original poster

tutu100 · 04/04/2010 20:54

Thanks Jolly Pirate. Ds2 is 15 months so has not had the booster. Will watch and see.

OP posts:

CharlieBoo · 05/04/2010 08:17

Ah bless he's only 15 months, how miserable for him and you. I would take to gp tomorrow and see what they say as your diagnosis is not entirely clear. If it is mumps then you need to know that really. I hope he's better soon, there is so much about at the moment, it has been a long winter!

bubbleymummy · 05/04/2010 19:12

Iirc the mumps component of the mmr is only about 60% effective so it is possible. Your poor little boy. I hope he feels better soon. At least he will have lifelong immunity and it is usually milder in childhood than when they are older.

Original poster

tutu100 · 05/04/2010 21:33

Thought I'd update and say thank you to everyone for their comments.

We took ds2 back to the OOH doctors this afternoon as the swelling got worse and went a bit red. Dr took one look at him and said that it is definatly mumps. Apparently a small percentage of children do not become immune to mumps through a single dose which is why they have a booster in their pre school vacination, so ds2 is just unlucky.

Luckily it is milder than it would have been without the MMR. Ds2 seems fine in himself, just looks very odd.

OP posts:

JollyPirate · 06/04/2010 08:45

Thanks for the update tutu. Poor little boy - as you say though it's likely to be milder because of the MMR. I had chicken pox 2 years ago (despite immunisation) and although I was covered I felt pretty much okay. GP said that without the imm I would have been very unwell.

He's just unlucky bless him. Hope he is soon recovered.

bubbleymummy · 06/04/2010 12:55

hmmmm... am I the only one who thinks that this is a nice way of excusing the fact that the vaccine didn't work? "oh, if you hadn't been vaxed it would have been more serious" or maybe not...who knows how sick you would have been! imo you're either immune or your not - you can't be somewhere in between!

bubbleymummy · 06/04/2010 12:57

oops you're not - ds2 on knee!

glad your ds isn't feeling too bad - as i said before - mumps isn't usually too bad in childhood anyway.

JollyPirate · 07/04/2010 09:01

You are right bubbley - the vaccine did not work, however, exposure to the antigen with the vaccine would have induced some kind of immune response albeit not enough to provide full protection in this case. The little immune response there was though should have weakened the effects of the mumps. In the same way it weakened the effects of the chicken pox in me - adults are often extremely ill with chicken pox. Vaccines can only be considered to have worked in an individual if there is full protection - as you say you are either immune or you are not. If not then you may get the illness and depending upon what immune response your body gave to a vaccine there will either be full blown effects of not. Any immune response can weaken the effect of an illness though as the body will recognise whatever the virus etc is and start from a better position than no immunity at all.

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