A study on mumps infection in children aged 1-12 years in a tertiary care hospital, South India: a cross-sectional study

Background: Mumps is a highly contagious disease effecting children globally with disease presentation varying from being asymptomatic to unilateral or bilateral parotid gland enlargement. It causes serious complications like orchitis, aseptic meningitis, pancreatitis etc. During introduction of MR vaccine in NIS by the Government of India, Mumps vaccine was not included due to lack of enough data representing actual burden of the disease in our country. Methods: This study was done from January 2024 to August 2024 following a surge in Mumps cases in children aged 1 to 12 years attending paediatrics department, Rangaraya Medical College, Kakinada. Results: A total of 76 children were included in the study. Children were mostly in the age group 6-10 years (44). Both male (37) and female (36) children were equally affected. Most of the children were from rural areas (67%). 75 (98.7%) children were completely vaccinated with the majority being vaccinated in the Government sector (86.85%). Only 9 (11.85%) children received mumps vaccine. Contact with an individual with mumps was seen in 51 children (67.11%). The majority of the cases were reported during the months of March-April (89.47%). All 76 children presented with parotid swelling either unilateral (22) or bilateral (52) with 2 children having both parotid and submandibular gland swellings. Mumps-related complications like pancreatitis, aseptic meningitis and both were seen in 6 cases,4 cases and 2 cases respectively. Conclusions: The government of India is to take necessary action to include the mumps vaccine in the UIP along with the MR vaccine to prevent mumps and its complications.