It is an acute infectious disease, characterized by non-suppurative enlargement and tenderness of one or both parotid glands.
Agent : Myxovirus parotidis
Period of communicability : 4-6 days before onset of the symptom and a week after.
Source of infection : Clinical and subclinical cases which carry the agent.
Mode of transmission : · Droplet infection
Incubation period : 2-3 weeks, average 18 days.
CINICAL FEATURES
COMPLICATIONS
Orchitis, ovaritis, pancreatitis, meningo-encephalitis, myocarditis. Generally doesn’t lead to sterility as only unilateral orchitis occurs.
PREVENTION
Measles Mumps Rubella (MMR) vaccine.