CHANDLER, Ariz. — The Maricopa County Department of Public Health is warning parents to be aware of the signs and symptoms of mumps after health officials say a confirmed case of the disease was reported at Hamilton High School.
The letter from the department sent to parents in the Chandler Unified School District said the case was reported "recently," but did not give a specific date.
The department did, however, say it would make parents aware of any "known exposure to your child," but added parents are urged to keep their student home and take them to the doctor if they observe any signs or symptoms of mumps.
The Maricopa County Department of Public Health confirmed a second case of mumps in the county. The person with the second case is a contact of the student, but is not a staff member at Hamilton High, health officials said.
Mumps is a contagious disease which is spread through the air or through contact with an infected person’s saliva or mucus. The disease can spread in ways that include coughing, kissing, or sharing items that touch an infected person's mouth, according to the department.
The signs and symptoms parents should be aware of include:
• Swelling and tenderness of one or more of the salivary glands around the neck and jaw.
• A few days before gland swelling, a low-grade fever may be present.
• An infected person may experience muscle aches, lack of appetite, headache and/or earache.
• For older boys and men, swelling and pain in the testicles can occur while females could experience abdominal pain from swollen ovaries.
• Mumps could cause meningitis symptoms such as a stiff neck and headache. The department says these usually go away without problems, but should still be looked at by a doctor.
MUMPS FACT SHEET FROM COUNTY HEALTH OFFICIALS (embedded below)
The department says mumps will "rarely" cause swelling of the brain.
Children are usually vaccinated for the first time against mumps at 12 - 15 months and receive their second a few years later when they are 4 to 5 years old.
According to MCDPH, despite the vaccination being "highly effective," mumps can still occur in a vaccinated person.
MCDPH is telling parents if their student is experiencing any of the symptoms of mumps to let their doctor know their child was exposed to mumps. Parents are being urged to show the department's letter to their health care provider.
"If mumps is diagnosed, please notify your school nurse," the letter reads.
According to the department, an infected student can return to school on the sixth day following the start of the gland swelling.