ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: The frequency and duration of hospitalization as well as symptoms and chosen laboratory tests in children with mumps hospitalized during 2003-2004 epidemics. METHODS: The inpatients records of children with mumps hospitalized from January 2003 to September 2004 at the Clinic of Pediatric Infectious Diseases in Bialystok were reviewed. RESULTS: At this time, the percentage of hospitalizations due to mumps increased from 1.6% up 34.3% in December 2003. The main cause of hospitalizations was mumps meningitis (81.4%). Children with mumps orchitis (3.4%), pancreatitis (1.9%) and mixed symptomatology i.e. meningitis with pancreatitis (2.3%) or meningitis with orchitis (1.1%) were also hospitalized. Children with pancreatitis needed the most longer time of hospitalization (16 days). The analysis of the laboratory tests revealed that serum lipase has the most diagnostic value for mumps pancreatitis and lymphocytic pleocytosis for meningitis. CONCLUSION: Mumps-associated morbidity could be limited if susceptible children population