Fears of a mumps outbreak are growing after hundreds have fallen ill in a UK city.
Students from Nottingham's two universities are among those to be suffering symptoms of the viral infection.
There have been around 40 confirmed cases and 220 suspected cases in Nottingham, Public Health England (PHE) confirmed this week.
One student said the infection made her feel like she had been 'punched in the jaw', and had to stay indoors for weeks, reports Nottinghamshire Live.
Chloe Glazzard, 20, a first year journalism student at Nottingham Trent University, said: “I got it about two weeks ago and it lasted around two weeks so I had to miss some of uni.
“When I first noticed it I felt like I had been punched in my jaw, and my jaw was really sore.
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“It made me go hot and cold, I struggled to eat as it went very hard and got bigger, almost like arthritis in my jaw.
“I didn’t want to leave the house, I went back home to Top Valley and just stayed indoors for the whole time."
Chloe continued: “[I] would say it was an outbreak, I know personally about ten people who had them, but everyone I spoke to said they knew loads of people who got them.
“I was taking ibuprofen and paracetamol with codeine, I’m not sure if the ibuprofen helped with the swelling or not, personally I think it just came and went as mumps do.”
The symptoms for mumps include painful inflammation and swelling of the salivary glands under one or both sides of the jaw, fever and headache.
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Some people suffer complications that can include inflammation of the pancreas, viral meningitis (inflammation of the brain), inflamed and swollen testicles in men and ovaries in women.
Mumps can also cause deafness.
Dr Vanessa MacGregor, consultant in health protection, said: “We have seen a rise in the figures recently and teenagers and young adults who have not had two doses of MMR vaccine are particularly vulnerable.
“That is why we are working closely with Nottingham Trent University and the University of Nottingham to inform students about mumps and to explain why vaccination is important.
"School leavers and other young adults who have not received the MMR or only received one dose should ensure that they take up the offer of MMR vaccination.
“However, it’s not just students who are at risk and we would urge everyone who hasn’t received two doses of MMR vaccine to do so. MMR also gives immunity to measles and rubella.”
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To be fully protected, children and adults need to have two doses of the MMR vaccine.
A spokesman for Nottingham Trent University said: “Our GP practices have noticed a number of potential cases of mumps.
"We have informed Public Health England and continue to support those who have been affected.
"If any students have any symptoms of the illness we would encourage them to visit their GP as they would do normally and inform a relevant member of staff on their course if it has an impact on their studies."
The council, NHS and PHE have been working together to deal with the outbreak.
