9 Dec 2019
Helping you to stay healthy this winter: Mumps and Norovirus
The onset of colder weather can sometimes see an increase in the number of cases of certain illnesses. It’s important that you know the symptoms, and what to do if you suspect you have them.
Mumps
Mumps is most recognisable by the painful swellings in the side of the face under the ears (the parotid glands). Other symptoms include headaches, joint pain and a high temperature, which may develop a few days before the swelling of the parotid glands.
Mumps is spread through infected droplets of saliva that can be inhaled or picked up from surfaces and transferred into the mouth or nose. A person is most contagious a few days before the symptoms develop and for a few days afterwards. During this time, it's important to prevent the infection spreading to others.
If you have mumps, you can help prevent it spreading by:
- regularly washing your hands with soap
- using and disposing of tissues when you sneeze
- not going to lectures, work etc for at least five days after your symptoms first develop
You should contact your GP if you suspect you might have mumps.
Norovirus
Norovirus, or the ‘winter vomiting bug’, is a stomach bug that causes vomiting and diarrhoea.
The main symptoms are feeling/being sick and diarrhoea, but you may also have a high temperature of 38C or above, a headache, aching arms and legs. The symptoms start suddenly within one to two days of being infected.
Norovirus can spread very easily. You can catch it from:
- close contact with someone with norovirus
- touching surfaces or objects that have the virus on them, then touching your mouth
- eating food that's been prepared or handled by someone with norovirus
Washing your hands frequently with soap and water is the best way to stop it spreading. Alcohol hand gels do not kill norovirus.
Don’t go to lectures, work etc until the symptoms have stopped for two days. You should also avoid visiting anyone in hospital during this time.
Further information on these conditions, and other illness that tend to more prevalent in winter, is available on the NHS website.