At least 336 people nationwide suffered hearing loss in 2015 and 2016 as a result of complications after they contracted the mumps, a survey by an ear, nose and throat society showed Wednesday. The report found a total of 261 people diagnosed with severe hearing loss to such an extent that it causes difficulties in their daily lives. These findings underline the need for free public vaccinations. According to the survey by the Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Society of Japan, 154 of the total were children between the ages 5 and 10 years.
The group collected responses from 3,536 medical institutions across the country. Fourteen patients developed hearing difficulties in both ears and 11 began wearing hearing aids or had cochlear implants, the society said. Those in their 30s made up a relatively large number of mumps cases, it added. Mumps is a viral disease that can cause fever and swelling in the salivary glands located just under the ear. Mandatory vaccinations were halted in Japan in 1993 due to side effects. Currently, mumps vaccinations are administered to individuals on a voluntary basis with patients shouldering the cost.
Source:Japan Times
Editors Note:
Mumps is a highly contagious respiratory disease that isspread through indirect or direct contact with an infected person’s nose orthroat droplets, such as when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It is bestknown for the puffy cheeks and swollen jaw that it causes because ofinflammation of the salivary glands under the ears on one or both sides. Othercommon symptoms include fever, headache, muscle aches, fatigue and loss ofappetite. Some people who get mumps have very mild or no symptoms, and often theydo not know they have the disease.
Most people with mumps recover completely in a few weeks.However, mumps can occasionally cause severe complications, especially inadults. Treatment includes rest, fluids, and over-the-counter medicine toreduce fever and discomfort. Since mumps is caused by a virus, antibiotics arenot used as a treatment.
People with mumps can spread the infection for up to twodays before, and five days after, symptoms develop, so those infected canspread the disease before they feel sick. Symptoms typically appear 16 to 18days after infection, but this period can range from 12 to 25 days afterinfection.
The best prevention against mumps is vaccination. The MMRvaccine is safe and effective. According to the CDC, two doses of mumps vaccineare 88% (range 66% to 95%) effective at preventing the disease; one dose is 78%range (49% to 91%) effective.
In addition to vaccination, other preventive measures thatcan be taken to prevent the disease include: Do not share food, drinks,utensils or other personal items that may contain saliva; wash your handsfrequently with soap and water, or use an alcohol-based hand rub if soap andwater are not available; cover your nose and mouth with a tissue if you sneezeor cough, and discard the tissue after you use it. If a tissue is notavailable, sneeze or cough into your upper sleeve or elbow, not your hands;clean and disinfect objects and surfaces that may be contaminated with germsand people with the mumps should stay home, and away from public places forfive days after the onset of symptoms and limit contact with others in theirhousehold.