Mumps

Mumps: symptoms, causes and treatment

Mumps, also known as mumps or mumps, is an infectious disease that primarily affects the parotid glands. This disease most often occurs in children aged 5 to 15 years, but can also affect adults. In this article we will look at the causes, symptoms and treatment methods of this disease.

Causes and methods of transmission

Mumps is caused by a virus that is contained in small droplets of mucus, sputum and saliva of the patient. Infection of a healthy person occurs through direct contact with a patient, when the virus enters the body of a healthy person through the respiratory tract (airborne transmission of infection). Very rarely, infection can occur through various objects, such as dishes or toys, but only if they pass to a healthy person within a very short time.

Symptoms

The incubation period for mumps ranges from 11 to 23 days. The disease begins with increased temperature, appetite, malaise, chills and headache. Nosebleeds are sometimes observed, and in severe cases there may be vomiting and convulsions.

After 1-2 days, a feeling of tension and nagging pain in the parotid area, pain when chewing, appears. In front of the ear, below and posterior to it, a swelling appears - an inflammatory enlargement of the parotid salivary gland, usually on one side. After 2-5 days, the salivary gland on the other side is also affected. At the same time, the patient’s face takes on a characteristic appearance, which is why the name “mumps” came about.

Patients have difficulty opening their mouths and experience pain when chewing and swallowing. In addition to the parotid glands, the submandibular and sublingual salivary glands can be affected. The salivary glands may be enlarged for 3-5 days, and then begin to decrease and return to normal size by the 8-9th day of illness.

In some cases, especially in adolescents and young men, on the 5-6th day of illness, inflammation of one or both testicles may be observed, and in young women, as well as girls during puberty, inflammation of the ovaries and mammary glands. The most serious complication is inflammation of the meninges or brain, which can lead to meningitis or encephalitis.

Treatment

Treatment of mumps consists of symptomatic therapy aimed at alleviating the symptoms of the disease. In severe cases, the patient may need to be hospitalized in the infectious diseases department.

Patients are usually advised to remain in bed and eat soft foods. Doctors may also prescribe antiviral drugs such as acyclovir or ribavirin.

Ice packs or warm compresses can be used to relieve pain and inflammation of the parotid glands, whichever is more comfortable for the patient.

To avoid complications such as inflammation of the meninges, it is important to follow hygiene measures such as regular hand washing and avoiding contact with sick people. Another effective method of prevention is vaccination against mumps, which is included in the mandatory vaccination program in most countries.

Mumps is an acute infectious viral disease, accompanied by damage to the parotid salivary gland and manifested by its swelling, a sharp increase in size and severe pain in the ear area, and sometimes an increase in temperature. Mumps is transmitted through saliva, so the most common cause of infection is kissing. The disease usually does not have serious consequences, with the exception of paralysis of the parotid muscles caused by spontaneous opening of the parotid abscess.