MUMPS

Abstract

Mumps is an acute virus infective disease in humans, characterised by non purulent swelling of the parotid, submandibular, or sublingual salivary glands, and especially in children frequently associated with meningitis or meningoencephalitis, or less frequently with gastroenteritis, oophoritis, orchitis, mastitis, pancreatitis, deafness, hemolytic anemia, subacute thyroiditis, nephritis and arthritis, The symptomatology indicates clearly that this is a generalized infection, in which as a rule the virus can be isolated from the affected organs. The participation of the CNS, gonads, pancreas, etc. is for this reason not to be regarded as a complication, but rather a variant type of organ manifestation. This also explains the varied symptomatology, as well as the wide spread in the timing and order in which the individual symptoms of the disease present. A relationship between mumps and the development of endocardial fibrosis, as well as diabetes has been presumed, but as yet not proved. The persistance of mumps antibodies of the IgM type in multiple sclerosis has similarly been reported.