Mumps - symptom, Treatment of Mumps

Mumps Information

A contagious viral illness affecting the salivary glands.

Symptoms of Mumps

• Fever, malaise, bodyache followed by
• 'Swollen face': Painful swelling at the angle of the jaw, beneath the jaw and often behind the ear, due to inflammation of the parotid and submandibular salivary glands.
• Swelling may either be symmetrical, or only one side may be involved.

Causes of Mumps

• The mumps virus is an RNA virus spread by droplet infection.
• The patient remains infective for about a week after the appearance of the swelling, but may already be infective
  before the swelling appears.
• The incubation period is between 10 & 15 days.
• The incidence of mumps has fallen since immunization was introduced.
• One bout of infection results in life-long immunity

Treatment of Mumps

The fever and swelling generally subside within a week with out treatment. Complications may rarely take the form of a more widespread illness, with headache and vomiting. This requires urgent medical attention. .Young men and boys, exposed to the virus develop orchitis, a painful swelling of one (and rarely both) testes, generally accompanied by fever. Mumps orchitis may result in atrophy of the testes. Sterility is rarely attributable to mumps orchitis. .Less frequently, women may suffer abdominal pain from ovarian inflammation. Sterility, rarely, follows.

What the doctor will look for:

Physical examination is enough to establish the diagnosis. Pain and swelling can be relieved with cold compresses. Eating may be painful, and every effort should be made to provide tasty and soft/semisolid foods. Oral hygiene with warm or medicated gargles is essential.

Preventive Measures:

MMR (measles/mumps/rubella) vaccine provides life-long.
Immumty.
The first dose is at 15 months, by intramuscular injection, with a booster at school entry.
Mumps in a pregnant woman does not affect the fetus.

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