The incubation period(The time taken for the virus to enter your body and produce symptoms) is usually 14 to 18 days , but may vary from 7 to 23 days . Once you are infected you are Most infectious 3days prior to 4 days after the onset of symptoms.
The incidence in pregnancy is 0.8 to 10 case per 10,000 pregnancies. Mumps is highly contagious and it spreads by droplet infection as mentioned below
- coughing.
- sneezing
- or using used hand towel , linens etc
- Sharing utensils.
Till now there is no report of any congenital anomaly of the baby which has been specifically associated with Mumps during pregnancy.However If contacted in 1st trimester( Initial three months ) of pregnancy there is a higher incidence of spontaneous abortion. There is however a questionable association of intrauterine mumps and endocardial fibroelastosis.
If your baby gets infected with mumps inside your uterus while you had Mumps infection it may leads to respiratory distress after delivery of your baby.Also neonatal thrombocytopenia and spleenomegaly has been seen in perinatal infection(Infection acquired within7 months in utero to 7 days of birth).
Usually your baby is protected from Mumps upto about 18 months by the maternal antibodies which he gets through your milk.So do not forget to feed your baby your milk.
Symptoms of Mumps infection
- Fever
- Loss of appetite,
- Sore throat,
- Chills,
- Headache
- Malaise,
- Body ache and
- Swelling and tenderness of one or more salivary glands most commonly the parotid gland.These are located within your cheek near your jaw line below your ear.
- One third of patients might not have any symptoms.
symptoms usually improves after 1 to 2 weeks .
Complications of Mumps infection
- Aseptic meningitis : Inflammation of the membranes covering brain
- Encephalitis : Inflammation of the brain itself
- Glomerulonephritis : Inflammation of the kidney .
- Myocarditis, : Inflammation of the muscles of heart
- Mastitis : Inflammation of the breast
- Oophorotis, : Inflammation of the ovaries
- Thyroiditis : Inflammation of the Thyroid glands located infront of your neck
- Pancreatitis : Inflammation of the pancreas
- Arthritis : Inflammation of the joints
- Hearing loss usually permanent..
preventing mumps during pregnancy
There is a vaccine called MMR to protect you from mumps and two other diseases namely measles and rubella. It is given in childhood between 1 to 5 years.If you have not been given MMR in your childhood and you have never had mumps before you can take the shot if you are planning for pregnancy.Once you get the shot do not get pregnant for at least 1 month.
you can not take MMR vaccine during your pregnancy as it can cause infection to your baby as it is a live vaccine.
Other measures which might help are
- frequent hand wash with soap and water
- do not share utensils .
- do not touch your eyes nose or mouth with your hands.
- avoid getting close to persons with active mumps or suspected mumps infection.
High degree of suspicion and the tell tale signs of infection are usually sufficient to diagnose
treatment of Mumps in pregnancy
As such there is no treatment of mumps.we only provide you symptomatic relief.
- Medications such as ibupruphen or acetaminophen can be used to bring down fever.
- Take plenty of fluid to keep yourself well hydrated.
- Use hot or cold fomentation to decrease pain and swelling.
- Well nutritious soft blend diet.
- Take enough rest
- Warm saline water gurgle.
- Do not take any fruit juice or acidic food as it might lead to stimulation of salivary glands and cause pain.
Mumps should soon be treated to unsustainable and increased severe
ReplyDelete