MUMPS VIRUSES Meaning and
Definition
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Mumps viruses are a group of single-stranded RNA viruses that belong to the genus Rubulavirus within the Paramyxoviridae family. They are the causative agents of the viral infection known as mumps. Mumps viruses are spherical or pleomorphic in shape and are enveloped by a lipid bilayer derived from the host cell membrane.
Mumps viruses primarily infect humans, predominantly affecting children between the ages of 5 and 9. The transmission of the virus occurs through respiratory droplets or direct contact with infected individuals. Upon entry into the body, the virus primarily targets and replicates in the salivary glands, leading to the characteristic symptoms of swelling and pain in the parotid glands, located in the cheeks.
The incubation period for mumps viruses is typically about 16 to 18 days, during which infected individuals may remain asymptomatic. However, once symptoms appear, they often include fever, headache, fatigue, muscle aches, and loss of appetite. Mumps infection can also result in complications such as orchitis (inflammation of the testicles), meningitis (inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord), and encephalitis (inflammation of the brain).
Vaccination through the MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine has significantly reduced the incidence of mumps worldwide. The vaccine contains a weakened form of the mumps virus, stimulating the immune system to mount a protective response against future infections.
Common Misspellings for MUMPS VIRUSES
- numps viruses
- kumps viruses
- jumps viruses
- mymps viruses
- mhmps viruses
- mjmps viruses
- mimps viruses
- m8mps viruses
- m7mps viruses
- munps viruses
- mukps viruses
- mujps viruses
- mumos viruses
- mumls viruses
- mum-s viruses
- mum0s viruses
- mumpa viruses
- mumpz viruses
- mumpx viruses
- mumpd viruses
Etymology of MUMPS VIRUSES
The word "mumps" comes from the term "mumpsimus", which was used in Middle English to describe a stubborn person who clings to old customs or ideas. The disease itself, mumps, was named based on the swelling of the salivary glands, which can cause the affected person to speak with a muffled or mumbling voice.
However, the term "mumps" in the context of the viral infection comes from Latin. The word "mumpsi" in late 16th-century Latin meant "grimaces", referring to the characteristic facial swelling that accompanies the disease. It was later adapted into "mumps" in English to describe the illness caused by the specific viruses.
