Measles and mumps are both highly contagious viral diseases that primarily affect children but can also impact adults. Despite their similarities in transmission and general symptomatology, these viruses are distinct in their pathology, clinical manifestations, and complications. This blog focus into the differences and similarities between the measles virus (MeV) and the mumps virus (MuV), shedding light on their virology, modes of transmission, symptoms, complications, and prevention strategies. Measles vs. Mumps Virus

Measles vs. Mumps Virus

Virology and Structure

Measles Virus (MeV): The measles virus belongs to the genus Morbillivirus in the family Paramyxoviridae. It is an enveloped, single-stranded RNA virus with a negative-sense genome. The viral particles are spherical, and the envelope is derived from the host cell membrane, containing viral glycoproteins hemagglutinin (H) and fusion (F) proteins. These proteins are crucial for the virus’s ability to infect host cells, with H protein facilitating attachment to the host cell receptor and F protein enabling the fusion of the viral envelope with the host cell membrane.

Mumps Virus (MuV): The mumps virus is a member of the genus Rubulavirus within the same family Paramyxoviridae. Like MeV, MuV is an enveloped, single-stranded RNA virus with a negative-sense genome. The mumps virus also possesses glycoproteins on its surface—hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) and fusion (F) proteins. These proteins are essential for the virus’s ability to attach to and fuse with host cells, facilitating entry and subsequent infection.

Modes of Transmission/Measles vs. Mumps Virus

Both measles and mumps are primarily transmitted through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The viruses can also spread through direct contact with contaminated surfaces or objects followed by touching the face, especially the mouth, nose, or eyes.

• Measles Virus is highly contagious and can remain infectious in the air or on surfaces for up to two hours. Individuals are most contagious from four days before to four days after the appearance of the characteristic measles rash.
• Mumps Virus is also highly contagious but less so than measles. People with mumps are most contagious a few days before and after the onset of parotitis (swelling of the salivary glands).

Clinical Manifestations of Measles vs. Mumps Virus

Measles Symptoms:

• Initial Symptoms: High fever, cough, runny nose, and conjunctivitis (red, watery eyes).
• Koplik Spots: Small white spots inside the mouth, appearing a few days before the rash.
• Rash: Begins on the face and upper neck, spreading downwards to cover the entire body. The rash typically appears 3-5 days after the initial symptoms.

Mumps Symptoms:

• Parotitis: The hallmark feature, causing painful swelling of the parotid glands (located below the ears).
• Initial Symptoms: Fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, and loss of appetite.
• Orchitis: In post-pubertal males, mumps can cause inflammation of the testicles, which can lead to complications like infertility.

Complications

Measles Complications:

• Pneumonia: A severe lung infection that can be life-threatening.
• Encephalitis: Swelling of the brain, which can lead to seizures and permanent brain damage.
• Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis (SSPE): A rare but fatal degenerative disease of the central nervous system that can occur years after measles infection.

Mumps Complications:

• Meningitis: Inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord.
• Encephalitis: Similar to measles, mumps can also cause brain inflammation.
• Deafness: Permanent hearing loss can occur in rare cases.
• Pancreatitis: Inflammation of the pancreas.

Prevention

Vaccination: The primary and most effective prevention strategy for both measles and mumps is vaccination with the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine. The vaccine is typically administered in two doses, with the first dose given at 12-15 months of age and the second dose at 4-6 years of age.

• Measles: The MMR vaccine is about 97% effective at preventing measles after two doses.
• Mumps: The MMR vaccine is about 88% effective at preventing mumps after two doses.

Herd Immunity: High vaccination coverage in a community leads to herd immunity, reducing the likelihood of outbreaks. Herd immunity protects those who cannot be vaccinated, such as infants, pregnant women, or individuals with compromised immune systems.

Differences Between Measles and Rubella Virus

While measles and rubella (German measles) share certain similarities, they are caused by different viruses and present distinct clinical features and complications.

Measles Virus vs. Rubella Virus:

• Measles Virus (MeV): As described earlier, measles is caused by the Morbillivirus in the Paramyxoviridae family. It is highly contagious and primarily affects children, though unvaccinated adults can also be infected.
• Rubella Virus: Rubella is caused by the rubella virus, a member of the Rubivirus genus in the Matonaviridae family. Rubella is also a single-stranded RNA virus but differs significantly in its genetic makeup and structure from the measles virus.

Clinical Features:

• Measles: The disease starts with high fever, cough, runny nose, conjunctivitis, and Koplik spots, followed by a widespread red rash.
• Rubella: Rubella generally causes milder symptoms compared to measles. Symptoms include a low-grade fever, mild rash, and swollen lymph nodes. The rash starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body but is typically less intense than the measles rash.

Complications:

• Measles: As mentioned, measles can lead to severe complications such as pneumonia, encephalitis, and SSPE.
• Rubella: The most severe complication of rubella occurs in pregnant women, where the virus can cause congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) in the fetus. CRS can lead to serious birth defects, including heart abnormalities, deafness, and developmental delays.

Transmission and Contagion:

• Measles: Highly contagious, spreading through respiratory droplets and remaining viable in the air for up to two hours.
• Rubella: Less contagious than measles but still spreads through respiratory droplets. Infected individuals are contagious from about one week before to one week after the rash appears.

What is Another Name for Mumps?

Mumps is sometimes referred to as “epidemic parotitis,” highlighting its characteristic symptom of parotid gland swelling. This name underscores the typical presentation of the disease and its potential to occur in outbreaks, particularly in settings where vaccination coverage is low.

Both measles and mumps are significant public health concerns due to their contagious nature and potential for serious complications. Despite advances in vaccination, outbreaks still occur, primarily in areas with insufficient vaccination coverage. Understanding the differences between these viruses and the importance of vaccination can help mitigate their impact and prevent future outbreaks.

In summary, while measles and mumps share similarities as viral infections, their clinical presentations, complications, and virological characteristics differ significantly. Effective vaccination through the MMR vaccine remains the cornerstone of prevention, offering high levels of protection and contributing to herd immunity. Public health efforts must continue to focus on maintaining and increasing vaccination coverage to protect individuals and communities from these potentially devastating diseases.

This article is Reviewed by: Dr.Mukesh Mallik-Masters of Science/Singhania University
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