Meningitis, mumps, glandular fever and more…


What is meningitis?

Meningitis is a serious disease in which there is inflammation of the membranes (meninges) surrounding your brain and spinal cord, caused by viral or bacterial infection, and marked by intense headache and fever, sensitivity to light, and muscular rigidity.

Many people unfortunately still believe that meningitis only affects babies and young children. This is not the case. Meningitis can affect anyone, of any age, at any time; it can strike quickly and kill within hours.

Students are considered to be a higher risk group for meningitis, and you should familiarise yourself with the signs and symptoms, so you can watch out for them in yourself and your friends. (It is sadly not uncommon for there to be deaths of students from meningitis each year in Liverpool.)


Vaccination for students

A new vaccination programme has been launched (September 2015) for all 17 and 18 year olds to be vaccinated against the A,C,W and Y strains of meningococcus.  This doesn’t cover all causes of meningitis, but is an important step in reducing incidences of this deadly disease among students.

New university and college entrants (freshers) up to the age of 25 are also eligible for vaccination.  Ideally you should have this from your GP before starting University, but there will also be catch up sessions for those who have missed it, or you can simply book with the nurse to request this in a regular appointment.



What is Mumps?

Mumps is an infection caused by a type of virus called a paramyxovirus. It is very contagious and spread in saliva, the same way as a cold or flu. This means it can be caught from an infected person coughing, sneezing, etc. Or, from touching infected objects, for example, door handles. Mumps infection is less common since the introduction of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine in the UK. (See separate leaflet called ‘MMR Immunisation’ for more information.) Mumps infection is now most common in children who have not received the vaccine.

What are the usual symptoms of mumps?

  • The mouth may feel dry.
  • Chewing or swallowing may feel sore.
  • Mild abdominal (tummy) pain may occur.

The swelling of the parotid glands usually lasts 4-8 days. Mumps is normally a mild illness, but complications sometimes occur. This is why immunisation is important.


What are the possible complications of mumps?


  • The testes (testicles) are sometimes affected. One testis may become inflamed, swollen, and painful for about a week. This is uncommon in young children. However, about 1 in 4 males who get mumps over the age of 12 develops a painful swollen testis. Occasionally, both testes are affected. In very rare cases this may cause infertility.
  • Brain inflammation (encephalitis or meningitis) is an uncommon complication. It typically causes drowsiness, headache, stiff neck, wanting to keep out of the light, and vomiting. Although alarming, meningitis caused by the mumps virus usually clears after a few days without any long-term problems.
  • Hearing loss can occur in around one in twenty people with mumps. This is usually only transient and usually improves with time. Very rarely, mumps can cause permanent deafness.
  • If you develop mumps in the first 12-16 weeks of a pregnancy, it may increase the risk of miscarriage. (However, the mumps virus is not thought to cause malformations or defects in an unborn baby.)

How is mumps diagnosed?


What is the treatment for mumps?

There is no drug that kills the mumps virus. TFor most people, mumps improves over a week with no long-term problems.

Treatment aims to ease symptoms until the body’s immune system clears the virus.

  • You do not need any treatment if symptoms are mild
  • Paracetamol or ibuprofen can be beneficial to ease fever and pain.
  • A warm flannel held against a painful parotid gland is soothing.

When to seek medical help?


Should people with mumps keep away from others?

Yes. Mumps is very infectious. It takes 14-21 days to develop symptoms after being infected. Affected people are infectious from about six days before, until about five days after, a parotid gland begins to swell. People with mumps should therefore stay off school, nursery, college or work and avoid other people as much as possible. This is as soon as mumps is suspected and for five days from the onset of parotid gland swelling.

Mumps immunisation

An effective vaccine to prevent mumps is available. It is part of the MMR vaccine. This is routinely offered to all children aged 12-15 months in the UK.  A second dose is offered as part of the routine pre-school booster programme at four years of age.  The routine MMR vaccinations were only introduced in 1988, so some students may have missed this, and others may not have been immunised for other reasons.  If you are not sure, you should see the nurse. If in dout, you will be given a booster.  Having an extra dose causes no harm.   Also, it does not do any harm if you have had mumps in the past and then have the MMR vaccine.


For further information visit: NHS Choices website


Glandular fever

Also known as the ‘kissing disease’ glandular fever is caused by an infectious virus which is passed on by saliva and from coughs and sneezes. Glandular fever causes a flu like illness with temperature, headache, sore throat and swollen glands and can cause a tiredness lasting for some time after first onset.

Glands may swell in the armpits and groin, and diagnosis is confirmed by a blood test. There is no treatment for glandular fever but it can be helped by drinking plenty of water, eating healthily and keeping a good sleep pattern with plenty of rest.

More information here, from NHS Choices.


Brownlow Health Central

Brownlow Health @ Pembroke Place

Brownlow Health @ Ropewalks

Brownlow Health @ Student Health

Brownlow Health @ Marybone

2 Vauxhall Road
L3 2BG
Tel: 0151 3308200

Brownlow Health @ Princes Park

Bentley Road
L8 0SY
Tel: 0151 295 9222

Brownlow Health @ Kensington Park

157 Edge Lane
L7 2PT
Tel: 0151 295 8770