Mumps and the UK epidemic 2005

The United Kingdom is in the grip of a nationwide mumps epidemic with almost 5000 notifications in the first month of 2005 alone. 1Most patients are aged between 19 and 23, and there is now the threat of outbreaks among under-immunised children.As a result of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, which was introduced in 1988, the current generation of practising doctors have little experience of mumps infection.Mumps may have permanent sequelae, and not all cases can be diagnosed clinically.Here we explain the basis of the current epidemic and review the epidemiology, clinical presentation, complications, laboratory confirmation, and treatment of mumps. MethodsWe searched Medline for evidence based information on the internet, using a range of search terms.Other internet based resources included the websites of the Health Protection Agency (HPA), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC).We also used various formal texts.