We continue with the series of entries that we started a few months ago to talk about vaccines, one by one, and today is the turn of one that is part of one of the most controversial vaccines: mumps vaccine, disease better known as mumps, which is part of the viral triple, next to that of measles and rubella.
The mumps vaccine It is currently administered at the age of 12 months. A few years ago he used to get at 15 months, but since measles increased again as a result of decreases in vaccine coverage and several outbreaks appeared, he went ahead at 12 months to protect the babies before.
It is a vaccine that requires a second dose of recall, which according to the AEP should be administered by 2-3 years, but that in many centers is left even up to 4 years.
What is mumps
The parotitis It is a contagious disease that produces a painful inflammation of the salivary glands. It is caused by a virus that is transmitted from person to person through the droplets of saliva (when one speaks, sneezes or coughs). It is common in children between 2 and 12 years not vaccinated against the disease, although it can happen at any age and has an incubation period of between 12 and 24 days.
The infection, in some cases, can become complicated by affecting the nervous system, the pancreas and the testicles in the case of men. The symptoms are facial pain, fever, headache, sore throat and the aforementioned inflammation of the salivary glands which in turn produces an inflammation of the jaw. In the case of men, testicular inflammation may also occur.
It is a disease that has no specific treatment, so everything will be aimed at alleviating the symptoms, taking the affected paracetamol, soft diet and applying cold packs In inflamed areas.
The prognosis is good, it usually evolves well and the one who suffers the disease is immune for the rest of his life. In the absence of treatment, the only thing that can be done to avoid it is to try to prevent its spread through universal vaccination, vaccinating all children.
Where is it administered?
When administered after 12 months, when babies are already standing or even walking, it is advisable not to administer it on the leg, so that they do not complain when walking and do not limp. At that age he puts himself in the arm, subcutaneously, usually in the triceps area. If the person who is going to receive it does not have coagulation problems (children do not usually), it can also be administered intramuscularly, in the shoulder, in the deltoid muscle.
Side effects of mumps vaccine
The mumps vaccine, when accompanied by other vaccines, can cause side effects derived from mumps, but also from the vaccines that accompanies it. The dose of rubella can cause joint pain and swelling. Measles and mumps can cause fever and mild rash. It is one of the vaccines that produces more fever, being a vaccine of live viruses dimmed
Can you put on if you are allergic to eggs?
The triple viral is a vaccine that can contain, in its composition, traces of egg protein (used to create it). This makes many people with allergic children doubt whether or not they can get vaccinated from it, or even the father of children who have not tried the egg, they think twice.
The reality is that the amount is so small, so low, that is not considered important. All children can be given the vaccine except those who have suffered a severe anaphylactic reaction when eating eggs.
I heard it could be related to autism
Since in 1998 a fake scientific article sneaked into a renowned scientific journal, the triple viral vaccine was considered possible cause of autism in children. The aforementioned article was removed from the journal and numerous studies have shown that this relationship does not exist. However, the myth ran so much and the stir was such that even today many people still believe that it is true.
Photos | Tom & Katrien, Carlos Reusser Monsalvez on Flickr
More information | Medline Plus, VaccinesAEP
In Babies and more | 180,000 children die each year from neonatal tetanus, "Vaccines are very effective in preventing disease." Interview with Carlos González (I) and (II), Ten things we should know about vaccines
