Mumps: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment & Prevention

 

The mumps is a virus-induced infectious disease. Your parotid salivary glands may swell painfully as a result (parotitis). The goal of mumps treatment is to reduce symptoms. Serious problems can happen, however the majority of symptoms are modest. The MMR vaccine provides defense against the mumps virus.

Also Read:  MPOX (Monkeypox) Virus Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis,Treatment and Prevention

What is a mumps?

A virus that spreads by saliva, nasal secretions, and close human contact is the cause of the infectious disease known as the mumps.

The parotid glands, often known as the salivary glands, are the main organs affected by the condition. The glands in question are in charge of producing saliva. Your face is lined with three sets of salivary glands, one behind each ear and one below. The enlargement of the salivary glands is the primary sign of mumps.

The mumps virus, which is a member of the paramyxovirus family of viruses, is the infectious agent that causes mumps. Mild symptoms including fatigue, fever, and headaches are the first signs of the sickness. However, it usually results in parotitis, which is a severe swelling of some salivary glands that causes large, puffy cheeks and a swollen jaw.

In the past, mumps was a relatively frequent childhood illness. The frequency of cases dropped sharply once the mumps vaccine was made accessible in 1967. But mumps outbreaks still happen, particularly in groups where people are nearby for an extended period, such as on college campuses.

Vaccinating your child against measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) is one way to keep them safe. Even though that mumps is typically a mild disease, serious complications can occur.

Symptoms:

Often, first mumps symptoms are not severe. Many people are unaware they are infected because they show no symptoms. Nor do symptoms show up immediately. There is a seven-to-25-day incubation period, which is the interval between infection and disease.
Among the mild mumps symptoms are:

• Headache.
• Muscles Aches
• Fatigued.
• Loss of appetite 
• Fever

Your parotid glands may enlarge painfully a few days later. Salivary glands called parotids are found in the space between your jaw and ears. Parotitis, the term for the swelling, can affect one or both of your face's sides. The classic mumps sign, "chipmunk cheeks," is characterized by a swollen jaw and puffed cheeks. In more than 70% of mumps cases, parotitis develops.

It's important to keep in mind that a wide variety of germs and viruses can induce parotitis. Therefore, it does not always indicate mumps virus infection.

Rarely, the mumps can cause damage to your brain, testicles, pancreas, or ovaries, among other organs. Although this normally only affects adolescents and adults, give your child's doctor a call as soon as they exhibit any of the following serious symptoms:

• High Temperature.
• Stiff Neck.
• Severe headache.
• Doubt.
• Pain in the stomach.
• Seizures.
• Vomiting

Causes: 

The paramyxovirus that causes mumps is called the mumps virus. Direct contact with infected saliva or respiratory droplets from an infected person's lips, throat, or nose can transmit the virus from one person to another. The person who has the mumps virus can infect others by:

• Coughing, talking, or sneezing.
• Sharing utensils, drinks, and toys that have come into contact with contaminated saliva.
• Playing sports, dancing, or participating in other socially intimate activities.

Certain demographics are more susceptible to contracting the mumps. Among these groups are:

• Those whose immune systems are weakened.
• People who take international trips.
• people who have not received the viral vaccination.
• People living in close quarters, such as on college campuses

How are the mumps diagnosed?

The doctor treating your child will ask about your child's symptoms and do a physical examination. Based on their characteristic enlarged salivary glands, they could be able to identify mumps cases. The doctor who treats your child might ask for specific tests to diagnose the condition.

What examinations are planned to diagnose the mumps?

To diagnose mumps, your child's doctor can ask for a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. To get a sample of your child's mucus, they will swab the inside of their cheek or throat. The sample will be sent to a lab, where it will be examined and tested for the mumps virus by a pathologist. To rule out other diseases and viruses that can cause parotitis or to aid in the diagnosis of the mumps, your child's doctor may also ask for a blood test.

 Treatment:

The mumps has no particular therapy. The disease has to progress and normally clears up on its own in a couple of weeks. The goal of mumps treatment is to alleviate your child's discomfort by easing their symptoms. 
Since mumps is a virus, it cannot be treated with antibiotics or other drugs. Nonetheless, you can manage the symptoms to enhance your comfort level during your illness. Among them are:

• When you're tired or weak, take a rest day.
• Reduce your fever by taking over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen and acetaminophen.
• Use cold packs to reduce swelling in the glands.
• Consume soft foods such as soup, yogurt, and other items that are easy to chew because having swollen glands can make chewing difficult.
• Steer clear of acidic foods and drinks as they may aggravate your salivary gland pain.
• Make sure to stay hydrated.
• Use warm, salted water to gargle.
• To ease a sore throat, suck on an ice pop.

Give your kids no aspirin. When children with viruses like the mumps take aspirin, they run the risk of developing Reye's syndrome, a serious condition that can lead to liver failure, brain enlargement, and even death.

 Prevention:

Because of the effectiveness that the mumps vaccine, mumps is a condition that can be mostly prevented. The mumps vaccine is typically administered by medical professionals as a part of a combination vaccination that protects against measles, mumps, and rubella.

The childhood immunization schedule typically consists of two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine for children. Between the ages of 12 and 15 months for the first dose, and 4 and 6 for the second, they receive the medication.

There are just a few hundred instances of mumps in the US each year, making it a rare disease. Nevertheless, outbreaks happen often in the United States, particularly in settings like dorms and schools where people are near one another. As a result, vaccinations are crucial to lowering your child's chance of catching the illness.

College campuses have recently seen mumps outbreaks despite strong immunization rates against the illness. Waning immunity following immunization is the reason for this. In certain cases, individuals in an outbreak situation may be advised to receive a third dose of the mumps vaccine by public health officials.

Is the MMR vaccine safe?

The MMR vaccine has high safety and effectiveness. In as many as 90% of cases, it prevents the mumps. The majority of children don't have any side effects from the vaccination. When adverse effects do arise, they are minimal. A rash, fever, or mild soreness at the injection site are possible side effects of the mumps vaccine.

A child very rarely experiences an allergic reaction to the MMR immunization. After receiving the vaccination, if your child experiences wheezing, exhaustion, loss of color, or breathing difficulties, contact their doctor right once.

The vaccination may be administered to children who exhibit mild symptoms or ailments, such as fever or upper respiratory tract infections. On the other hand, your child's pediatrician can suggest delaying the vaccination until after your child has recovered if they have a more serious sickness. Inform the pediatrician of your child if your youngster:

• Has a parent or sibling who has experienced seizures, or has experienced seizures in the past.
• Is currently using drugs that could compromise their immune system.
• Has a blood disorder.
• Reacted badly to a previous dosage of the MMR vaccine.