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Original poster

MUMPS and all that

11 replies

Rats · 07/08/2006 13:58

I'm really torn about giving my boy MMR. He's so sensitive and gets sick really easily - I think the shock of a triple vaccine might be too much. My thinking is that Rubella's not an issue for boys and neither is Mumps if they get it in childhood. Are there such things as MUMPS parties - like chicken pox ones? Then all that remains is Measles. Am I naive/daft/ridiculous?

OP posts:

anthonykiedisbitontheside · 07/08/2006 14:02

Mumps can be dangerous to boys if they get in childhood it can turn into encephalitus and it can also make them infertile.

anthonykiedisbitontheside · 07/08/2006 14:04

Actually scrub the infertiltiy bit, you're right that does just happen to adult males.

fridayschild · 07/08/2006 14:08

I was worried about the MMR too but then DS1 got chickenpox and because measles is so rare nowadays there was an agonising 24 hours before they confirmed it was just (!) chickenpox. It was awful wondering if the little lad had got measles because i was busy being angst-ridden

my advice is not to wonder for too long, whatever you decide to do

foxinsocks · 07/08/2006 14:08

rubella's a problem if he picks it up and gives it to a pregnant woman though

LucyJones · 07/08/2006 14:10

measles is no loner uncommon, as a result of people not having the MMR there is currently an epidemic.

Elibean · 07/08/2006 16:37

Just one other thing to consider though, if he doesn't get Mumps he could still get it as an adult...and that would be no fun at all. So he might want a single vaccine for that pre-adolescence if he hasn't ever caught it.
My DH hasn't had either Mumps or the vaccine, and is going to get vaccinated alongside dd (even though we're not planning any more kids, it can be very painful for grown men!).
And I've seen Measles locally, its not that rare anymore, unfortunately.

Original poster

Rats · 07/08/2006 17:09

So Elibean - is that the singles or the MMR you're giving yours. And I read that over the age of 2yrs measles isn't that dangerous... so my temptation is to give a mumps vaccination before school age and leave the others to the immune system. Or is that stupidly naive?

OP posts:

Elibean · 07/08/2006 17:15

dd has had her first MMR already, and only had a mild reaction ten days later. She's going to get the booster whenever dh can screw his courage up and get a single Mumps vaccine

I don't know much about Measles at different ages, or the relatives dangers...think I'd best leave that one to a more informed MNetter, sorry.

WigWamBam · 07/08/2006 17:15

Measles can be very dangerous whatever age it's caught. If you're lucky like I was you just end up partially deaf (I was 6 when I had it). If you're unlucky you can end up with encephalitis or meningitis. It can also be fatal - there were a couple of teenagers died of measles earlier on this year. Yes, it's a rarity but it can happen; measles can be a nasty illness.

And it's getting more and more common.

Elibean · 07/08/2006 17:16

Although, speaking from personal experience, Measles aged about 7 was truly miserable: never forgotten it.

Elibean · 07/08/2006 17:18

And come to think of it (thanks for reminding me, WWB) I used to work with Deaf and HOH people and there were quite a few whose deafness was the result of either Rubella in their pregnant mothers or Measles in themselves, at all sorts of ages as far as I can remember.

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