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IN TODAY’S MEDICAL ALERT, AS WE HAVE BEEN REPORTING, THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IS WARNING ABOUT AN INCREASE IN MUMPS CASES. AS OF FEBRUARY 19TH, THERE HAVE BEEN 26 CASES REPORTED SO FAR THIS YEAR, 19 CONFIRMED AND SEVEN PROBABLE. MUMPS IS A VIRAL INFECTION THAT CAUSES FEVER AND SWOLLEN GLANDS IN THE CHEEKS, HENCE THE NAME. ALTHOUGH IT’S TYPICALLY A MILD INFECTION, CASES CAN BECOME SERIOUS AND HAVE SIGNIFICANT CONSEQUENCES. MONTHS THAT GETS COMPLICATED CAN LEAD TO OF SOMETHING CALLED ORCHITIS OR SWELLING OF THE TESTICLES. FOR YOUNG MEN, IT ALSO CAN INVOLVE SWELLING OF THE OVARIES. FOR YOUNG WOMEN, EACH OF THOSE CAN LEAD TO INFERTILITY ISSUES, BUT WE ALSO GET CONCERNED ABOUT PROGRESSION TO MENINGITIS. AND OF COURSE, MENINGITIS IS A VERY SERIOUS ILLNESS REQUIRING HOSPITALIZATION AND A POTENTIAL STAY IN THE ICU. IF YOU DID NOT GET THE MMR VACCINE AT 12 MONTHS AND A BOOSTER
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It’s not just measles. Mumps are on the rise, too. A doctor explains the concerns
It’s not just measles cases that are on the rise in the United States.A Baltimore doctor is warning of serious consequences associated with mumps as cases increase in Maryland.As of Feb. 19, the Maryland Department of Health has warned about an increase in mumps cases, including 26 reported cases so far this year, 19 of which were confirmed and seven were probable.Mumps is a viral infection that causes fever and swollen glands in the cheeks, hence the name. | MORE INFORMATION: Maryland Department of Health fact sheet about mumps (PDF)Although it’s typically a mild infection, cases can become serious and have significant consequences.”Mumps that gets complicated can lead to something called orchitis, or swelling of the testicles for young men. It can also involve swelling of the ovaries for young women. Each of these can lead to infertility issues, but we also get concerned about mumps’ rare progression to meningitis,” said Dr. Ashanti Woods, a pediatrician at Mercy Medical Center.Meningitis is a very serious illness that requires hospitalization and a potential stay in the intensive care unit.If you did not get the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine at 12 months and a booster at age 4, you can ask a doctor whether you’re a good candidate for the vaccine, as most people are.PHNjcmlwdCB0eXBlPSJ0ZXh0L2phdmFzY3JpcHQiPiFmdW5jdGlvbigpeyJ1c2Ugc3RyaWN0Ijt3aW5kb3cuYWRkRXZlbnRMaXN0ZW5lcigibWVzc2FnZSIsKGZ1bmN0aW9uKGUpe2lmKHZvaWQgMCE9PWUuZGF0YVsiZGF0YXdyYXBwZXItaGVpZ2h0Il0pe3ZhciB0PWRvY3VtZW50LnF1ZXJ5U2VsZWN0b3JBbGwoImlmcmFtZSIpO2Zvcih2YXIgYSBpbiBlLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdKWZvcih2YXIgcj0wO3I8dC5sZW5ndGg7cisrKXtpZih0W3JdLmNvbnRlbnRXaW5kb3c9PT1lLnNvdXJjZSl0W3JdLnN0eWxlLmhlaWdodD1lLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdW2FdKyJweCJ9fX0pKX0oKTs8L3NjcmlwdD4=
It’s not just measles cases that are on the rise in the United States.
A Baltimore doctor is warning of serious consequences associated with mumps as cases increase in Maryland.
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As of Feb. 19, the Maryland Department of Health has warned about an increase in mumps cases, including 26 reported cases so far this year, 19 of which were confirmed and seven were probable.
Mumps is a viral infection that causes fever and swollen glands in the cheeks, hence the name.
| MORE INFORMATION: Maryland Department of Health fact sheet about mumps (PDF)
Although it’s typically a mild infection, cases can become serious and have significant consequences.
“Mumps that gets complicated can lead to something called orchitis, or swelling of the testicles for young men. It can also involve swelling of the ovaries for young women. Each of these can lead to infertility issues, but we also get concerned about mumps’ rare progression to meningitis,” said Dr. Ashanti Woods, a pediatrician at Mercy Medical Center.
Meningitis is a very serious illness that requires hospitalization and a potential stay in the intensive care unit.
If you did not get the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine at 12 months and a booster at age 4, you can ask a doctor whether you’re a good candidate for the vaccine, as most people are.
