Diseases, Conditions & Concerns / Question
Published: June 11, 2002
Dear TeenHealthFX,
I have this cousin of mine who is presently suffering from mumps. He's been told never to walk around or do any physical activity and that such movements might affect his reproductive health. How much truth is there in all of this?
Signed: Cousin With Mumps
Dear Cousin With Mumps,
Mumps is a viral disease that causes your parotid glands to swell. The parotid glands are located on both sides of the face under the ear. They are involved in the secretion of saliva. Saliva in the mouth helps to lubricate food and make it easier to chew and swallow. Mumps is not very contagious, so it is uncommon for more than one member of a family to have the disease at the same time. There is a combined vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella which hopefully, you and most everyone has had.
A fever, diarrhea, and a general feeling of being sick usually accompany the swelling of the parotid glands. A fairly common risk of mumps is swelling and inflammation of the testicles in a male. This swelling is noticeable and can be very painful for a day or two. Ice, wrapped in a towel, applied to the scrotum can offer some relief. The swelling goes down after a few days and usually leaves no aftereffects. In rare cases the swelling causes infertility
Your cousin might have been told to stay in bed and rest in order to speed his recovery and prevent complications. Complete recovery within about 10 days is usually the case.
Signed: TeenHealthFX
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