A viral infection which affects the parotid glands is likely to cause mumps. Most of these glands are known to generate saliva. They are found just under the ears or above the jaw bone.
Mumps is a common disease among the children and young boys and girls. If the adults catch mumps the problems can be severe. Previously the number of children suffering from this disease used to be frequent but now with immunization and vaccination the risk of this disease has reduced.
Cause Mumps
The salivary glands swell and there is a constant pain in the throat region. The viral infection attacks the parotid gland and generally there is fever, testicular swelling or rashes may appear on the sides of the glands. If someone affected with mumps coughs or sneezes, the affected saliva comes out of the mouth and if a normal person comes in contact with the fluid he or she is likely to be affected.
Mumps Symptoms
The disease is normally infectious in the initial seven days when swelling is noticed. Even the 10 days after the swelling is equally dangerous. After the person is exposed to the infected saliva one can notice the probable symptoms of mumps only after a fortnight or after 24 days. People feel feverish, are tired because of the high temperature and there is a large swell in the parotid gland.
Although one side is initially affected gradually both the sides are affected by this disease. There are problems to swallow the food, and the patients can have problems in talking, drinking or opening their jaws.
If your child is talking about constant earaches it is better to pay attention as he or she might be having all the other problems with drinking or eating. These are the initial signs of mumps. Even an abdominal pain can trigger the possibilities of mumps.
In most of the cases the problem is curable and hence the question of complication is minimal. However adults suffering from this disease might face some unusual complications. In case of women there can be inflammation of ovaries a disease commonly known as oophoritis. Young boys who are in the verge of puberty can suffer from orchitis which is an inflammation in testicles.
Chances are that it can affect his fertility. Mainly mumps are harmless which are cured within a specific time period. However there are rare chances that it might turn to meningitis or encephalitis. There might be temporary hearing loss, headaches, vomiting, stiffness in the neck region and patients generally tend to avoid light. The hearing loss is temporary and parents need not be afraid of any permanent damage. As mumps gets cured the problems tend to go away.
Treatment For the Mumps
A doctor should be consulted who will prescribe the necessary medication. Antibiotics are not of much help and it is best to give the children paracetamol syrups which reduce the pain. Children should be encouraged to drink lots of water but fruit juices are best avoided.
Most fruit juices can generate saliva which can be extremely painful for the patients. As the temperature goes down one can notice decrease in swells. Most of the painkillers give relief to continuous muscle aches. If symptoms of encephalitis and meningitis are noticed in the children then one should call for medical aid.
Advice
Today vaccination has reduced the chances of mumps. MMR also combines the rubella and measles vaccination. Children from the age group of 12 to 15 months can have the first booster while the second one is given between the ages of 3 to 5
This ensures complete protection from mumps and regular vaccination has lessened the chances of mumps in children. Some recent researches in United Kingdom have shown that MMR increases the chance of inflammatory bowel disease and autism. Although people are generally skeptical about MMR, yet it is the best possible means to wipe away the possibilities of mumps.
