mumps

[mandid12]

can you get mumps twice

[scubadiver]

It's uncommon, but if for whatever reason your immune system was compromised on the first occasion, although you would fight off the first infection, you wouldn't necessarily develop "memory" T or B cells.

This would mean that in any subsequent encounters with the same virus your immune system wouldn't recognise it as something already encountered and you would possible develop a the disease- either full blown or a milder form.

[Hippy]

Mumps is caused by a virus known as a myxo virus. It is transmitted mainly by infected saliva although the urine also contains virus particles. The saliva is infectious for approximately six days prior to the onset of swelling of the salivary glands in the cheeks. The peak infective period is from a day or two before the onset of the swelling until very shortly after it begins

Actually having the disease confers lifelong immunity.

[scubadiver]

Hippy- having the disease only confers lifelong immunity if the virus is correctly dealt with by the immune system on the first encounter.

Also, viruses are continually mutating ( eg influenza) so immunity, whilst it should be lifelong, isn't always so.

[Hippy]

Scubadiver, Point taken, I looked on teh NHS site when I read your post which sounded so reasonable. I read that immunity was confered in over 95% of cases and that the immune compromised people would almost certainly be under spaecial care. However, you are right to point out that in a small percentage the normal immunity might not be achieved. Does myoxo virus mutate? I don't know, though I doubt it otherwise mumps vaccine would be ineffective and repeat infections more common.

[treacle84]

My boyfriend had it when he was 2 and then again last october quite badly when he was 22 so yeah, I guess you can! Horrible isn't it?!

[Greedyfly]

I have had mumps twice and chicken pox 4 times - Only once my eye lol

[shaneystar2]

Yes..I had them as a child and got them again last year at the age of 57. Very unpleasant and painful as an adult.

[scubadiver]

Hippy- the virus responsible for mumps is an RNA virus, so the potential rate of mutation is considerable higher than a DNA virus.