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Mumps Virus: Modification of the Identify-Isolate-Inform Tool for Frontline Healthcare Providers

Abstract

Mumps is a highly contagious viral infection that became rare in most industrialized countriesfollowing the introduction of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine in 1967. The disease, however,has been re-emerging with several outbreaks over the past decade. Many clinicians have neverseen a case of mumps. To assist frontline healthcare providers with detecting potential casesand initiating critical actions, investigators modified the “Identify-Isolate-Inform” tool for mumpsinfection. The tool is applicable to regions with rare incidences or local outbreaks, especially seenin college students, as well as globally in areas where vaccination is less common. Mumps beginswith a prodrome of low-grade fever, myalgias and malaise/anorexia, followed by development ofnonsuppurative parotitis, which is the pathognomonic finding associated with acute mumps infection.Orchitis and meningitis are the two most common serious complications, with hearing loss andinfertility occurring rarely. Providers should consider mumps in patients with exposure to a knowncase or international travel to endemic regions who present with consistent signs and symptoms.If mumps is suspected, healthcare providers must immediately implement standard and dropletprecautions and notify the local health department and hospital infection control personnel. [West JEmerg Med. 2016;17(5)490-496.]

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