Mumps - Should you shoot a wedding if you are sick/contagious

<p>If you had the mumps would you still shoot your wedding ? Is it that contagious in respect to infecting the b/g ?<br>

I just came down with it, have a wedding this coming Tuesday, and don't want to pass it on to my clients. I'm trying to get one of my associates to cover for me with my second shooter.<br>

Could I possible still show up to direct things from afar or even shoot from afar without infecting anyone ? </p>

<p>Mumps is contagious, so I would definitely pass on the wedding.</p>

<p>My doctor laughs when I ask him for photo advice.</p>

<p>Eric</p>

<p>http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/bacterial_viral/mumps.html</p>

<p>Stay home...</p>

<p>If you are in a real jam, email me, my photo partner is free. He's one of the best!</p>

<p>VERY CONTAGIOUS!! STAY WAY WAY WAY AWAY</p>

<p>As Maria says, it is very contagious. Esp. in the early stages I beleive.</p>

<p>If you can, get a friend/local photog to cover for you. I have a network of local's here and we all kind of cover for each other if one of us cannot make it.</p>

<p>Hope you get well soon and with little suffering.<br>

BEST, D.</p>

<p>If you infect someone at the wedding, are you ready to cover the damages? If not, stay home and advise the b/g they are getting the b team and why.</p>

<p>The person that gave it to you George didn't think it was contagious either.</p>

<p>Art, I have no idea where i got it from.......i feel horrible.....my face is all swollen like I have acorns in my cheeks.<br>

I have never missed a wedding. Ever !</p>

<p>Good God, how could you even consider it.............<br>

Stay home and get well and in the meantime try to put a replacement in place.<br>

Best wishes to your recovery.</p>

<p>Steff, I feel so bad that I can't shoot it.........what if i wear a surgical mask ? J/K</p>

<p>I sure hope you get everything worked out..... and check with your doctor to see what you can and can't do and what your time frame is of being contagious. Get well!!!!!!!!!!!!!</p>

<p>While I am sorry for your situation with a <strong><em>VERY contagious illness..... </em></strong>I find it hard to believe, in fact am quite shocked that you would even consider putting others at risk! I'd like to point out that pdn is not a professional health care site and I am wondering about your ethics. <br />As Art pointed out:<br />The person that gave it to you George didn't think it was contagious either.</p>

<p>I do wish you a speedy recovery</p>

<p>Imagine the lawsuit with infecting some lawyers kids at the wedding and one having his kids you know whats effected. Maybe punting should be considered on this gig. You sit this game out and get the backup quarterback the ball.</p>

<p>If you are old enough to photograph at weddings, you are old enough to have serious complications from mumps if you move around. Ask your doctor or Google around - it will positively ruin your day. In any case, it would be irresponsible to risk passing them on to someone else, even if you are past the most contageous phase.</p>

<p>OK, usually this is legal advice people seek here, now it is medical. The below is not medical advice, it is friendly advice...<br>

Here is a list of compications, from the <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/mumps/DS00125/METHOD=print&DSECTION=all">Mayo Clinic Website</a> :</p>

<ul>

<li ><strong>Orchitis.</strong> This inflammatory condition causes swelling of one or both testicles. Orchitis is painful, but it rarely leads to sterility — the inability to father a child.</li>

<li ><strong>Pancreatitis.</strong> This is swelling of the pancreas. Signs and symptoms of pancreatitis include pain in the upper abdomen, nausea and vomiting.</li>

<li ><strong>Encephalitis.</strong> A viral infection, such as mumps, can lead to inflammation of the brain (encephalitis). Encephalitis can lead to neurological problems and become life-threatening. Although it's serious, encephalitis is a rare complication of mumps.</li>

<li ><strong>Meningitis.</strong> Meningitis is infection and inflammation of the membranes and fluid surrounding your brain and spinal cord. It can occur if the mumps virus spreads through your bloodstream to infect your central nervous system. Like encephalitis, meningitis is a rare complication of mumps.</li>

<li ><strong>Inflammation of the ovaries.</strong> Pain in the lower abdomen in women may be a symptom of this problem. Fertility doesn't seem to be affected.</li>

<li ><strong>Hearing loss.</strong> In rare cases, mumps can cause hearing loss, usually permanent, in one or both ears.</li>

<li ><strong>Miscarriage.</strong> Contracting mumps while you're pregnant, especially early on, can lead to miscarriage</li>

</ul>

<p>Nothing you want to give a bride and groom, nor anyone at the wedding.<br>

The Mayo Clinic further gives this advice:</p>

<ul>

<li>Rest in bed until the fever goes away.</li>

<li><strong>I</strong> <strong>solate yourself or your child to prevent spreading the disease to others. Someone with mumps is most contagious within the first five days after the onset of signs and symptoms.</strong> </li>

<li>Take acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) to ease symptoms. Adults may also use aspirin. Don't give aspirin to children because of the risk of Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal disease.</li>

<li>Use a cold compress to ease the pain of swollen glands.</li>

<li>Wear an athletic supporter to ease the pain of tender testicles.</li>

<li>Avoid foods that require lots of chewing. Instead, try broth-based soups or soft foods, such as mashed potatoes or cooked oatmeal, for nourishment.</li>

<li>Avoid sour foods, such as citrus fruits or juices, which stimulate saliva production.</li>

<li>Drink plenty of fluids.</li>

<li>Plan low-key activities.</li>

</ul>

<p>(emphasis added)<br>

Besides, are you sure it is mumps? If you are US based, there are I believe less than 1,000 cases a year and it is even less common in adults.....</p>

<p>OK lets play medical.net :) The contagious period can be longer too; each side can be infected at different times; days apart.</p>

<p>yes..... note it says "most" contagious.</p>

<p>Thanks everyone.......i had no intentions of shooting the wedding.......wishful thinking.........it's just that i've never missed a wedding in my 19 year career...........this has put me down for the count.......thanks for all the advice.</p>

 

<p>If you were the groom, <em>would you want a chance to contract</em> mumps from the photographer or the food-server folks at your wedding? Probably not a good idea.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>I do not know where you are at, but in the United States of America, everyone who is not impoverished (we do not take care of those people, nor want to...that is not my sentiment, but reality of how our government treats its people) or anti-science (scary people who do not read factual books), should have a mumps vaccination. Ah, but you say you have had an immunization for mumps and still got it, I did too, well the reason for that is that the standard MMR (measles mumps rubella) vaccine fails, in regards to mumps, say 10 to 20% of the time. Why then get vaccinations, if it does not work in 1 out of 5 people? Two words, "herd immunity." So, basically you can rely on herd immunity to protect the general populace, but for every person that you come in contact with and actually spread the contagion, they have a 10 to 20% chance of getting the mumps, if they had the MMR vaccine, and the odds increase greatly, if they have not had the vaccine, or it was improperly administered.</p>

<p>Now, I did not look up some fancy web site at what to do, but I feel enlightened enough, having had the mumps, and from my studies to say that you should remain home and rest. Go play a computer game or something, and the hours will just fly.</p>

<p>George, if you've been shooting weddings for 19 years, I assume you've got to be pushing 40 or better. Mumps would be pretty unusual at that age. What was the diagnosis based on?</p>

<p>Paul, i'm goiing to the doctor today. I've done more reading and these symptoms can come from diabetes or teeth problems also. I'll know tonight.<br>

I got my top guy to take the wedding. He was able to get off of work so all is well in that end.<br>

I hope it's not diabetes.</p>

<p>Me too. That's something you don't need for sure. As you've learned, there are lots of things that can inflame the salivary glands, some infectious and some not. Get the right diagnosis first.</p>