Kane Co. Health Dept. offers tips on protecting against the mumps

Recently, there have been increases in mumps cases in northern Illinois. In some years, there are more cases than usual because of outbreaks.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the measles, mumps rubella (MMR) vaccine prevents most, but not all, cases of mumps.

Outbreaks can still occur in highly vaccinated U.S. communities, particularly in close-contact settings.

However, high vaccination coverage helps limit the size, duration, and spread of mumps outbreaks.

The mumps vaccine is still the best way to protect your child against mumps.

Talk to your health care professional or check your child's immunization records to ensure the mumps vaccine is up-to-date.

Protect your family and yourself with the mumps vaccine.

In addition to ensuring you and your family are up-to-date with your vaccinations, other steps you can take to prevent the spread of mumps are:

• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, and put your used tissue in the trash can. If you don't have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve or elbow, not your hands.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water.

• Avoid sharing drinks or eating utensils.

• Disinfect frequently touched surfaces, such as toys, doorknobs, tables, counters.

For more information, visit www.cdc.gov/mumps/index.html.

Common symptoms for mumps

Mumps is best known for the puffy cheeks and swollen jaw that it causes. This is a result of swollen salivary glands. The most common symptoms include:

• Fever

• Headache

• Muscle aches

• Tiredness

• Loss of appetite

• Swollen and tender salivary glands under the ears on one or both sides (parotitis)

Symptoms typically appear 16-18 days after infection, but this period can range from 12-25 days after infection.

Some people who get mumps have very mild or no symptoms, and often they do not know they have the disease.

Most people with mumps recover completely in a few weeks.