[Anonymous]

Hi,
My housemate has just told me that they have the mumps.
I had my MMR when i was little but i think they only last 10-15 years or something.

What are my best ways of avoiding it?
How likely am i to get it?...I have important work commitments on the horizon.

[daisydaffodil]

The MMR is lifelong so nothing to worry about.

[Melting Sugar.]

Mumps went round my halls when I was a fresher, and i'm sorry to tell you but I had the MMR jab yet still caught it (as did many others in my hall, I mentioned this to the nurse who assessed me and she said that it seems to have been a common theme among those who'd caught it..). Just don't share drinks, make sure you drink lots of liquids to flush anything out. Avoiding them won't make much difference if they're showing the symptoms as it's the moments before the neck starts swelling that are the most contagious.

[ParadoxSocks]

You're only at risk if you're in the weird age range that needed but didn't get the booster - I'm 25 now and didn't get the second top-up dose so if you're around my age then you could catch it. I had mumps a couple of years ago and we were incredibly confused about how it happened because my records indicated I was safe. It took three different doctors to work out what was going on with my stupidly painful face.

You need to be taking the same precautions as you would if there was a flu outbreak and you should be okay. If you're worried then visit your doctor and mention it. We were offered MMR jabs when we moved to uni and I really regret not accepting the offer.

[Anonymous]

I think i got my booster when i was 14/15 but i cant be sure.
I now have a horrible cold so my immune system is already weakened...things dont look good haha

[katehlouise]

(Original post by daisydaffodil)
The MMR is lifelong so nothing to worry about.

I've had the jab, and I got mumps in 2010.

(Original post by Melting Sugar.)
Avoiding them won't make much difference if they're showing the symptoms as it's the moments before the neck starts swelling that are the most contagious.

Yep, odds are you've already been exposed to the mumps. I had a sore throat for a couple of days before my glands started to swell, and that was the beginning of it.
My doctor just told me to stay off school for a week - the contagious period doesn't last that long as far as I remember. I think my glands were swollen for around 3/4 days. I looked like a hamster :3