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Mumps, or common parotitis, is an infectious childhood disease that is generally not dangerous. However, in some cases, mumps can cause serious complications, including inflammation of the meninges, pancreas, testes or brain. Mumps is also dangerous for pregnant women as it can cause a miscarriage. Therefore, it is important to know what the symptoms of mumps are and how it is treated.

Mumps(common parotitis epidemica, Latin mumps) is one of the most common infectious diseases. Mumps is most common in children between the ages of 5 and 15. However, adults can also become infected with it. It is not known why this disease attacks more often in spring and autumn than in summer and winter.

Contrary to popular belief, you can get mumps more than once in your life - which doesn't happen often. Nevertheless, complications from this disease can be serious. However, they can be prevented by vaccinating your baby against mumps.

What are the symptoms of the mumps? How do I care for my baby with mumps and recognize complications of mumps?

Mumps - symptoms and course

Mumpsis caused by a virus from the paramyxovirus family. Infection occurs through droplets and through contact with objects and products contaminated with the saliva of the virus carrier.

Mumps virus is sensitive to soap, ether, temperature, UV radiation and drying out. The course of the disease depends on the general condition of the patient, as well as the level of his immunity. In most patients, the course of this disease is mild.

The mumps incubation period is 2-4 weeks. The patient may be infected for up to 6 days before the onset of the first symptoms and for the entire duration of the disease, i.e. for the next 10 days. An infected person becomes depressed, has no appetite, sometimes complains of headaches, has a slightly elevated temperature.

It happens that the first symptom of the disease is a sudden swelling of the salivary glands, usually the virus attacks the parotid glands, less often - the submandibular, and occasionally the sublingual. They are not always occupied symmetrically, sometimes changes occur only on one side of the face.

The skin over the salivary glands is taut but not reddened. Paincaused by inflammation of the salivary glands makes it difficult not only to eat, but even to open the mouth wider (preventing e.g. brushing teeth). The sick person is thirsty but painful to swallow. Sour dishes or drinks exacerbate unpleasant sensations. The swelling of the salivary glands increases (with it the temperature rises) and lasts usually for 2-3 days (rarely up to 10 days), and then gradually subsides.

Each case of mumps requires consultation with a doctor. If the child vomits, complains of severe headache or abdominal pain, begins to hear poorly, loses consciousness or has convulsions, or if the boy experiences swelling and enlargement of the testicles, contact a doctor as soon as possible as these may be signs of serious complications of mumps .

Pig - treatment

In the treatment of mumps, the most important thing is to rest and isolate the patient (which should last no less than 9-10 days). Vitamins, painkillers and antipyretics (e.g. containing ibuprofen or paracetamol) may be administered. Sometimes it is soothing to warm up sore spots by wearing a soft scarf around the neck, warm compresses, and applying a warming ointment.

When preparing your child's meals, remember that they are neither too cold nor too hot. It is best to give food that is tasteless, liquid or semi-liquid and does not require chewing. It is worth encouraging them to drink plenty of fluids, which, however, should not be too sweet, sour or carbonated.

Atypical mumps course - complications

It happens that the mumps virus attacks other organs in addition to the salivary glands, causing a number of complications.

  • Meningitis

The mumps virus affects the meninges in addition to the salivary glands. Sometimes it reaches these organs at the same time, but it happens that meningitis precedes the classic mumps or is a complication of it. Mumps meningitis without involvement of the salivary glands is very rarely observed. Symptoms of mumps infection of the meninges are headache, fever, vomiting, followed by abdominal pain and a slight stiffness in the neck, as a result of which the patient cannot reach the chest with his chin. It happens that meningitis does not give such symptoms and the doctor can detect them only on the basis of examination of the cerebrospinal fluid collected during the lumbar puncture.

  • Mumps meningitis is very rarely associated with encephalitis.

Symptoms include loss of consciousness, no pupil response to light (pupils do not constrict), no squinting when looking at the approaching nose during a medical examination, muscle stiffness or sagging (impossibleis moving e.g. an arm or a leg). The occurrence of such symptoms is the basis for immediate hospitalization in the infectious diseases ward. Therapeutic management includes the use of painkillers, antipyretics and drips. When inflammation occurs, large doses of steroids are also administered. In the vast majority of cases, meningitis leaves no traces. Sometimes, however, it can lead to a delay in mental development, disorder of movement - and if help was not provided on time - even death. A very rare complication is deafness or hearing loss, and inflammation of the optic nerve or iris of the eye.

  • Testicular inflammation

Affects almost exclusively adolescents and adult males, and rarely small boys. In the period from the 7th to the 10th day of the disease, rapid enlargement of the testicles (more often one testicle) is observed. The testicles and epididymis are swollen and very painful. These symptoms are usually accompanied by a rapidly rising fever. Relief can bring cold compresses and the so-called. a scrotum pad (it lifts and stabilizes the testicles, thus reducing pain; you can buy it at a pharmacy). In addition, the treatment procedure is the same as that used in the classic course of mumps. The mumps virus does not often attack both testicles simultaneously. If it does, it could result in infertility. Contrary to popular belief, such complications are really rare.

  • Pancreatitis

Pancreatitis is a rare complication in young children; it is more commonly seen in adults, especially women. The symptoms of mumps pancreatitis are high fever, severe abdominal pain around the pancreas (upper left abdominal quadrant), vomiting, diarrhea. The patient should quickly go to the hospital, where he will be given, inter alia, preparations that protect the pancreas and drips to prevent the destruction of the body due to vomiting that is difficult to control. Usually, mumps pancreatitis passes without a trace. However, after leaving the hospital, you should follow an easily digestible diet and supplementation with vitamins for a long time.

  • Miscarriage

Pig is dangerous to women in the first three months of pregnancy1 . It can cause miscarriage, lead to fetal death or lead to birth defects in the baby.

  • Rare complications

The mumps virus spreads throughout the body through blood. After reaching the prostate gland, mammary glands, thyroid, thymus, liver or ovaries, it can cause inflammation of these organs. An even rarer complication of mumps is inflammation of the heart muscle or joints.Fortunately, prompt medical attention and hospital treatment allow most patients to recover from complicated mumps without compromising their he alth.

Pig - vaccination against mumps

Contrary to popular belief, you can get mumps more than once in your life, but it doesn't happen often. However, since complications from this condition can be serious, it is better to be safe than sorry and get your child vaccinated. The child is given a combination vaccine subcutaneously (vaccinated against mumps, measles and rubella, MMR at the same time). The injection is given between 13 and 15 months of age and a booster dose is given in age 7.

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