Mumps is an infection that predominantly affects children, though it can affect people at any age. It is caused by a highly contagious virus that belongs to the paramyxovirus family, but like most viral infections, it is usually a mild and self-limiting illness. The complications may be serious, however, and if parents are in any doubt about their child's well-being, they should always visit their family doctor.
INCIDENCE AND INCUBATION
Prior to the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination programme in 1988, mumps was responsible for around 1,200 paediatric hospital admissions a year in England and Wales. Less than a decade later, the number of confirmed mumps cases had dropped to fewer than 94 cases in 1996.
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