What is the most common complication of Mumps?

Punjab CHO - 2021

Medical Surgical Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: Punjab CHO - 2021

Explanation

Aseptic meningitis is the most common complication of mumps when considering the entire patient population.
The mumps virus is highly neurotropic, with subclinical central nervous system (CNS) involvement (virus in the spinal fluid) occurring in up to 55% of patients.
Symptomatic aseptic meningitis occurs in up to 10% of unvaccinated patients, which is a higher overall incidence than complications limited to specific subgroups (like orchitis in males).
While encephalitis is rare (less than 1%), it is a CNS complication that is correctly grouped with the more common meningitis in this option.

Option B: While orchitis is very common in post-pubertal males (up to 30%), it is not the most common complication overall because mumps also affects children (where orchitis is rare) and females.
Option C: Mastitis (inflammation of the breast) is a possible complication, but it is less common than aseptic meningitis across the entire population of mumps patients.
Option D: This option is incorrect because the question asks for the 'most common' complication, implying one is more frequent than the others. The listed complications have widely different incidence rates.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Complications of Mumps as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses play a key role in monitoring for complications of mumps, especially neurologic signs (headache, stiff neck, altered consciousness) and gonadal involvement (testicular or abdominal pain).
Patient education is crucial, emphasizing vaccination (MMR) as the most effective prevention strategy and explaining the need for isolation (droplet precautions) for 5 days after the onset of parotitis to prevent spread.
Supportive care is the mainstay of treatment. This includes analgesics for pain (e.g., from parotitis or orchitis), antipyretics for fever, and specific comfort measures like scrotal support and cold compresses for orchitis.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core of the question: it asks for the 'most common' complication of mumps.
Recall or look up the common complications of mumps: parotitis is the classic sign, but complications include meningitis, encephalitis, orchitis, oophoritis, pancreatitis, and deafness.
Differentiate the incidence rates. Note that some complications are frequent but only in specific subgroups (e.g., orchitis in post-pubertal males).
Compare this to complications that can affect any patient with mumps, regardless of age or sex (e.g., meningitis).
Aseptic meningitis is known to be the most frequent complication overall, especially when considering the high rate of subclinical CNS involvement.
Evaluate the options. Option A includes meningitis. Option B includes orchitis. Since meningitis is more common overall, select Option A.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Medicine Harrison 22e Part 1 p. 1689-1691