Abstract
Background prior to design: Limited outbreaks of mumps do occur in schools and crèches and other public places
throughout the globe especially in developing countries like India, despite the introduction
of MMR vaccine in 1967-1968. Same is the case with South Kashmir where almost every
year mini-epidemics of Mumps do occur which however remain unnoticed, unreported and
unnotified.
Design: It was a Hospital based Observational study, carried out from the year 2007 to 2011.
Objective: To find the epidemiologic pattern and clinical presentation of mumps in patients
attending a tropical medical unit of Multispecialty hospital(DHP) at South Kashmir,
Pulwama, India.
Material & Methods: All Children fulfilling the criteria for diagnosis of Mumps were recruited in this
study from 2007-2011.Their characteristics, the pattern of clinical features were
noted besides information regarding history, place, season, month and year of occurrence
of disease was collected from the parents of affected children. All these parameters
were noted down by a senior internist and infectionlogist of the department,using
well-structured proforma. The data so collected was subjected to biostatistical analysis
using Fisher exact test and SPSS version 12.
Results: A total of 55 patients were included in the study. All the children had h/o contact
with, raw/ semiripened walnuts. Males were 36 and female were 19 in number. None had
received any form of mumps/MMR vaccination. All the patients presented in hot summer
and in the month of august showing a seasonal trend annually. Bilateral parotitis,
a hallmark of mumps was present in all patients. Rural patients usually presented
with mild fever.Earache was mainly present in younger age - groups These findings
were statistically significant (P< 0.05). Out of 55 children, orchitis was seen only
in one child. CONCLUSION: Mini-epidemics of mumps occur more frequently in south Kashmir
and effect our school children and hamper work output.It can be best prevented by
inclusion of mumps/MMR vaccine in national immunization schedule.
Keywords
Mumps - school-going children - raw walnut contact - unimmunised - mini-epidemics
- late summer - clinical presentation
