However, its incidence in developed countries has decline dramatically since the advent of vaccination. A member of the paramyxovirus family, closely related to parainfluenza viruses ss RNA, enveloped virus of helical symmetry. B. Epidemiology Mumps is a disease of childhood, the highest incidence occurs in children between 5 - 9 years of age. The disease is less contagious than other childhood diseases such as measles and varicella.
Mumps is endemic in most urban areas.
May. No such seasonal variation exists in tropical countries. C. Pathogenesis Mumps is transmitted by droplet spread or by direct contact. The primary site of viral replication of the epithelium of the upper respiratory or the GI tract or eye. The virus quickly spreads to the local lymphoid tissue and a primary viraemia ensues, whereby the virus spreads to distant sites in the body. The parotid gland is usually involved but so may the CNS, testis or epididymis, pancreas and ovary.