Need your input on a medical isssue...

GibsonSt19 · 7 April 2005 at 10:01PM

My wife went to work this morning with a slightly painful gland thing, just on one side below her ear.

This evening, she returns home looking like an unbalanced hamster, smuggling food inher 'pouch'.

Now, she thinks she may have the mumps, which she's never had before.

My worry (apart from worrying for her of course!) is that I might have it or already have it, as aparently it's pretty serious for blokes of around my age (26).

Now my question is, how far do I need to go in terms of trying to avoid the virus (assuming I've not got it already)?

We've agreed that I should sleep in a spare bedroom, but I mean what else should we consider?

I know it sounds pathetic, but I've not been vaccinated, as it only came out in 1988.

Your advice is most appreciated!

Yours frettingly,

Gibson

nearlyrich · 7 April 2005 at 11:20PM

I am not a doctor, speak to NHS Direct if you are really worried, I am not offering medical advice but I would hate to think of you worrying all night....:)

Mumps is a notifable disease so she should see her doctor, make sure you tell the receptionist you suspect Mumps as there may be vulnerable people in the waiting room. There is about a 5 day incubation period before the symptoms show so you will have been exposed to the virus already. However the good news is that the chance of it affecting your fertility, which is what makes it potentially serious for guys after puberty, is really low. My 19 year old son had it just after he started at uni last autumn so we checked out all the info. There was also a thread on it around January as anothe MSE Member's daughter had it, she was also a uni student.

Hope your wife feels better soon, tell her to get lots of rest and look after her, hope that you don't get it too.

fran_from_willesden · 8 April 2005 at 2:50PM

My friend had mumps during her finals at Uni a couple of years ago. She got it off her boyfriend and the poor lass looked like a hamster. The likelyhood is you'll either be immune to it or start showing symptoms as it's contagious before the glands swell. I'd definately go to the doctor. You'll become a statistic as your doctor has a duty to inform the Dept. of Health as like nearlyrich said, it's a notifiable disease.

Hope she gets well soon.

malolo · 8 April 2005 at 8:37PM

Not quite the same, but when I had glandular fever I was advised to have my own plate, glass and cutlery that no one else used when I was going through the contagious stages.

Teerah · 8 April 2005 at 8:45PM

Hi GibsonSt19,

your wife should seek medical advice but I think it is unlikely to be mumps as this usually affects both sides at the same time. Does she feel unwell? It sounds like some sort of acute infection eg a sebaceous (skin) cyst or possibly a salivary gland infection or dental infection. If so, it wont be contageous but best not take my word for it, best thing to do is get it checked out!

GibsonSt19 · 8 April 2005 at 8:52PM

Teerah wrote:

Hi GibsonSt19,

your wife should seek medical advice but I think it is unlikely to be mumps as this usually affects both sides at the same time. Does she feel unwell? It sounds like some sort of acute infection eg a sebaceous (skin) cyst or possibly a salivary gland infection or dental infection. If so, it wont be contageous but best not take my word for it, best thing to do is get it checked out!

Darn it, she went to the doctors this morning and he confirmed it's mumps

I'd betta keep an eye on the old crown jewels, until I go for a jab on monday afternoon!

Scary scary scary

Teerah · 8 April 2005 at 8:57PM

Sorry to hear that Gibson

Hope everything goes ok for you guys

Toothsmith · 8 April 2005 at 9:26PM

Are you sure you didn't have it as a kid? Most kids did catch it pre-vaccine, and if you did you will almost certainly be safe anyway.

GibsonSt19 · 8 April 2005 at 9:37PM

My lovely mum tells me I've not had it before, however she did say that when I was baby, she took me to the clinic to have 3x jabs. I'm not sure mumps would have been one of them in '78/'79m but she thinks I may have had MR (not MMR).

Glad · 9 April 2005 at 3:53PM

there is no documented case of mumps permanently affecting a mans fertility, it can cause inflammation of the testes which is why there is a concern

jellyhead · 10 April 2005 at 12:48AM

my hubby had it over xmas, poor sausage! luckily i was already pregnant so his fertility didn't matter too much lol! it didn't affect his testicles but he did feel really tired and drained, sympathy was required. when my neck started to swell i worried a bit, but i've had mumps 3 times as a child and my swelling was glandular fever (again, had that a few times too). mum got mumps from my hubby, odd that she didn't get it while we had it as kids! we asked the doc if we should avoid people, or each other but he thought the risk was minimal. hubby stayed away from my 85 year old gran but we didn't know then that mum was already infected. the doc gave me a week off work though, pregnant and tired i just couldn't face it, not with glandular fever so he gave me a sick note saying suspected mumps - naughty i know lol! half the chinese students i work with had it anyway, they all got over it with no complications.