A CASE SERIES ON PREVENTABLE YET SURGING DISEASE, MUMPS.

Introduction:Mumps is a highly contagious viral infection affecting the salivary glands, primarily caused by the mumps virus, a member of the Paramyxoviridae family. Despite being a self-limiting disease, mumps can lead to severe complications such as meningitis, encephalitis, orchitis, oophoritis, and permanent hearing loss. The introduction of the MMR vaccine has significantly reduced the incidence of mumps globally, but outbreaks continue to occur, particularly in areas with low vaccination coverage. In India, mumps is not a notifiable disease, and the vaccine is not included in the Universal Immunization Program (UIP), leading to underreporting and insufficient control measures. This study aims to analyze the recent trends in mumps cases in a paediatric population in Vijiyapura town of Bangalore Rural district and emphasize the need for including the mumps vaccine in the national immunization schedule. Methodology:This study was conducted at the Community Health Center (CHC) of Vijiyapura town in Bangalore Rural district. Cases were collected on an Paediatric Outpatient department (OPD) basis from children presenting with symptoms of mumps between March and May 2024. The World Health Organization (WHO) clinical case definition was used to diagnose mumps. Data were collected from all children who visited the OPD and met the clinical case definition. Results:A total of 18 cases of mumps were identified between March and May 2024. The age distribution ranged from 3 to 14 years, with a mean age of 7.1 years and a median age of 7 years. The majority of cases (77.8%) were male. Clinical presentations included fever (100%), constitutional symptoms such as headache and myalgia (80%), swelling of salivary glands (100%), with (27%) having unilateral parotid swelling and (73%) having bilateral parotid swelling. Cough and cold were observed in (80%) of the cases. Conclusion: The study highlights the increasing incidence of mumps in the paediatric population of Vijiyapura town of Bangalore Rural district, emphasizing the need for the inclusion of the mumps vaccine in the UIP. Strengthening the surveillance system and healthcare infrastructure is crucial for better management and control of mumps outbreaks. Collaboration among government agencies, healthcare workers, parents, and the community is essential to implement sustainable solutions and prevent future outbreaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]