Mumps in Children: An Overview
Mumps is a contagious illness caused by a virus that can result in fever and swelling of the neck.
During the prevaccine era, nearly everyone in the United States experienced mumps, and 90 percent of cases occurred among children who were 15 years of age or younger.
Today, mumps is a relatively rare illness in the United States. Fewer than 300 cases of mumps were reported in 2003. Prior to the
mumps vaccine being licensed in 1967, 100,000 to 200,000 mumps cases are estimated to have occurred in the United States each year. Furthermore, because of the mumps vaccine
(see MMR Vaccine), mumps in children occurs less frequently than before. In fact, up to 40 percent of mumps cases are thought to now happen in adults
(see Adult Mumps).
Cause of Mumps in Children
The cause of mumps in children (as well as in adults) is an infection with the
mumps virus. The virus is an RNA (ribonucleic acid) virus from the family
Paramyxovirus of the genus
Rubulavirus. The mumps virus only infects humans and is found worldwide.
When infections with the mumps virus occur, they are more common in those living in close quarters, including:
- Schools
- Military quarters
- Orphanages.
Mumps virus infections are also more common during spring, especially April and May.
