Mumps contact 😷

[Moomin8]

Hi Peeps 🙂

I hope this post finds you as well as can be 🫠

I am writing to ask about contact with mumps.

I have RA and my main meds are Tocilizumab (injection), Methotrexate (injection) and Sulphasalazine. Do I have to be particularly careful that I do not come in contact with a child who possibly has mumps?

I know Chicken Pox is a concern, but can't find anything about mumps.

I would appreciate any input 😊

Wishing you all a Happy New Year 2024! 🥳

[ruth_p]

Did you have a mumps vaccination as a child? I would have thought if you did then you would probably be ok.

[Moomin8 in reply to ruth_p]

Thanks for your reply 🙂As far as I know, yes - I have had the MMR. But I always worry about my susceptibility of catching anything, due to my meds.

[Gnarli]

I'd be wanting to talk to my rheumy team and my close male friends/relatives. The team will have good info for you. The chaps need warning too as mumps in a man who hasn't been vaccinated or had mumps in the past can suffer really badly and can develop horrible inflammation of his testes. Nasty

[Moomin8]

Thanks for your reply 🙂I absolutely agree! Also, any ladies who might be pregnant!

I work in a school, so I have to be careful about how I broach the subject. I heard about the potential situation through a friend; not first hand. I'm hoping that the situation doesn't actually happen, and all will be well. I like to have a plan, if I need a plan. But sometimes we just have to cross our wonky fingers 🤞and hope for the best!

[RAGuy]

I have found the (much maligned) 111 service good for advice. I had a query and was referred for a clinician callback. Within 2 hours, the clinician referred me to a doctor who called me before the end of the day, quicker than a call from my doctor or RA team.

It is certainly worth checking.

Best wishes

[Moomin8 in reply to RAGuy]

Thanks for 111 top tip 😊 I might give them a try.

[silentpool]

I lost 50% of my hearing overnight when I caught mumps in 1980. It might have been 100% but unilateral deafness is horrible enough. Mumps can be life changing for women as well as men. Please take it seriously.

[Moomin8 in reply to silentpool]

Thanks for your reply. I'm sorry to learn that you have lost some of your hearing through mumps - that's tough on you.

[Cheesechurch]

Mooning8 I think the best thing is to get advice from your gp or rhumatrory nurse.

[Moomin8]

Update:

I happened to have a blood test this morning, so I thought I'd ask about my mumps dilemma. The nurse said that I should be ok, but to take precautions: to steer clear as much as possible, and to keep my hands clean and away from face etc.