Mumps is an infectious disease characterized by an inflammatory process of the parotid salivary glands. In childhood, the disease is easier, in adults and adolescents, a rather severe course is possible. According to statistics, children from one to fifteen years are most susceptible to disease, girls suffer infection several times less than boys.
How is mumps transmitted?
Symptoms are caused by viral pathogens transmitted by airborne droplets, the place of their dislocation is the saliva of an infected person. Once in the body, they penetrate the salivary glands and cause an inflammatory process. Transmission of infection occurs through direct contact with the infected, through toys, dishes, personal hygiene products.
The disease is mumps. Symptoms are the harbingers
The incubation period lasts up to 25 days. First of all, there is a loss of appetite, headache and a slight increase in temperature. Then there are already symptoms characteristic of the disease of the mumps, but initially they are not so pronounced. In the area near the ears, periodically painful sensations arise, especially intensifying when chewing food. Gradually, mild symptoms flow into a more acute and painful form.
Piggy. Symptoms of the disease:
- a very high temperature rises, a fever begins;
- The parotid glands swell greatly, cause pain. The increase can be asymmetric when the tumor on one side is larger than on the other or is present only on one side;
- there are painful sensations when eating and chewing movements:
- the amount of saliva is reduced;
- the mouth does not open well;
- there are pains in the ears;
- not excluded the separation of pus and distortion of facial expressions.
Treatment
If signs of mumps appear, you should immediately consult a doctor for an appointment. Patients are prescribed quarantine and a sick leave is issued. Bed rest is mandatory and special attention is paid to oral hygiene. The doctor prescribes warming compresses at the site of tumor formation. The fight against the virus takes place with the help of interferon preparations, but if the course of the disease is complicated by purulent secretions, then antiviral agents and antibiotics are used. In some cases, physiotherapeutic procedures and rinsing of the parotid ducts are prescribed. Particularly severe cases or chronic mumps will lead to surgery.
Effects
Fortunately, the consequences are the exception rather than the rule, but be aware of the dangers.
1. Inflammation of the testicles. In young children, this effect is practically excluded, but a quarter of cases among adolescents and men are faced with this problem. This can cause infertility.
2. Meningitis. The most common complication, but it flows easily.
3. Pancreatitis. Appears due to the reaction of the pancreas to the mumps virus.
4. Symptoms of hearing loss and meningoencephalitis due to the penetration of the virus into the brain.
5. Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain). It is found least of all, but it is very dangerous.
6. Violation of reproductive function in women.
Prevention
The main prevention of the disease is vaccination, which is given to babies of one year old. But for unvaccinated and mumps-free adults, doctors recommend vaccinations, since their course of the disease is much more complicated and there is a high risk of complications.
The reaction of the body to a vaccine is possible in the form of a rare rash that is similar to measles, sometimes a slight increase in the parotid glands is observed, but this is a normal reaction of the body, everything goes by itself.
There are contraindications for vaccination against mumps. Immunization of people with weak immunity and allergies is excluded.