What is mumps or mumps? This is inflammation of the parotid glands, which then spreads to other glands in the body.
There are mumps and ordinary, non-infectious. In addition to infection, there are other causes of the disease. This is inflammation due to autoimmune processes or hypothermia. Autoimmune mumps occurs in the adult population. Sarcoidosis, Sjogren's disease and rheumatoid arthritis can stimulate mumps in a mature person. But we will only consider mumps and its symptoms.
Mumps or mumps. Childhood illness
This disease affects the parotid glands and leads to dangerous CNS complications. Mostly children of primary and secondary school age from 6 to 15 years fall ill. The child is a carrier of infection 2 days before the onset of the first signs and another 9 days. Mumps in children is most contagious during the first 5 days. During this period, the classic symptoms of the disease appear.
Manifestation of mumps with temperature and swollen cheeks. That is why the disease is popularly called the “mumps”. Then, from the ear glands, inflammation passes to the submandibular, to the salivary and others. The thyroid and pancreas are rarely affected. Sometimes the central nervous system suffers.
All symptoms usually last no more than a week. After 4-5 days, the heat in the child passes and the swelling gradually disappears from the face.
It is absolutely impossible to send a child to a kindergarten or school with such swollen cheeks, even if there is no heat and headache.
Mumps in children and adults
The causative agent of the infection is Pneumophilia parotidis, which belongs to the paramyxovirus family. Transmitted by airborne droplets. If the carrier also suffers from acute respiratory infections and sneezes, mumps around it spread very quickly. It is desirable to isolate such a person. It is also transmitted through household items - children's toys, towels. It is distributed both among school-age children and among young boys. Often outbreaks occurred in military units. But among middle-aged people, mumps is already rare.
It is possible that the virus will spread to a newborn baby from an infected mother. When paramyxovirus enters the mucous membranes through the nose, it quickly looks for attack objects where it can multiply. Nervous tissue and glandular are suitable for this type of virus.
Virus properties
The virus lives exclusively in the human body, like measles. It was discovered in 1934 by E. Goodpascher and C. Johnson. According to the ICD, the disease also has its own code - B26 - Mumps. And further, under the same number, mumps pancreatitis, orchitis, and other complications are encoded
The causative agent of mumps tolerates cold well, and can retain its dangerous qualities for a long time at temperatures below 20 ° C. But it does not tolerate overheating. If it is heated to a temperature of 50 ° C and above, the paramyxovirus dies. It quickly collapses when exposed to conventional disinfectant solutions. Such as 50% alcohol or 0.1 formalin solution. It also quickly collapses when exposed to direct ultraviolet radiation.
Classification
Mumps in children and adults has 2 forms. It can occur with complications and without them. The simplest form is a mild inflammation of the gland on one side and pain behind the ear, lasting several days. Tumors may not even be noticeable. The form of mumps with the threat of complications causes more concern on the part of parents. With a long course, complications can go on for 8 to 10 days, and many organs will suffer. It is necessary to worry in such cases so that the child does not lose hearing and there are no complications on the heart, central nervous system or genitals.
They also distinguish between mild, moderate and severe. Mumps in adults is accompanied by a temperature of 40 ° C and above, a prolonged course and heart damage in the form of tachycardia. This is the most severe form.
Symptoms of the disease in adults
In those who did not have mumps in childhood, the disease proceeds worse in adulthood. The temperature will be higher, the pain behind the ears is stronger and the consequences are even more dangerous.
Of course, not all symptoms appear simultaneously in the patient. It happens that the course of mumps is relatively smooth and asymptomatic. But we will give the most common signs of the disease.
So, if a person has mumps, the symptoms will be as follows:
- inflammation and swelling of the glands near the ears first, then the tumor passes to the salivary submandibular glands, and to the neck;
- headache;
- chewing pain;
- fatigue and temperature 38 ° C, and it happens all 40 ° C;
- sometimes hearing is lost;
- in 4% of cases, the virus affects the pancreas;
- In 15% of adult men, inflammation passes to the testicles (orchitis), and in 5% of women to the ovaries (oophoritis);
- inflammation of the inguinal lymph nodes;
- violations of salivation and, as a result, constant dry mouth;
- pain sometimes passes to the tongue;
- vomiting and abdominal pain if acute pancreatitis manifests itself in the presence of infection.
In some cases, mumps affects only the glands, but it happens that the virus targets only the nerve tissue. But also often this infection affects both of them at the same time.
Complications
What is paramyxovirus dangerous? Complications of mumps occur in most cases in young boys. Almost 50% of the likelihood that, having overcome a mumps, the boy will not be able to have children. In 35% of cases, one testicle is affected and the chances of becoming a father remain, but not big. There are other complications. The disease sometimes affects the pancreas and the lining of the brain. It happens that hearing is lost after inflammation, and a person remains deaf until the end of his life.
In order to facilitate pancreatic work during the period of illness, you should not give your child fatty, fried foods at this time, limit smoking. If the parent sees that complications have begun and the child is vomiting, he complains of pain in the side, then you need to call an ambulance.
A child under 8 years old is very vulnerable to the disease and it may happen that meningoencephalitis becomes its complication. The first wake-up call is unbearable headaches. And in this case, procrastination threatens his life. After curing from meningitis or meningoencephalitis for about 2-3 months, asthenic manifestations are observed, and this is normal.
In general, the forecast is very good. The disease is treatable. Fatal cases are extremely rare only if the temperature “rolls over” and the body does not withstand. Complications are best prevented by proper patient care in advance.
How is diagnosed
Mumps in children manifests itself in different ways. If the symptoms are well-defined, they are diagnosed based on obvious signs - headache, fever and swelling near the ears.
But if not, then you need to take blood for analysis. White blood cells will be reduced. The main analysis that confirms mumps is an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, which confirms the presence of antibodies specifically to mumps. This is valuable information when parents could not observe the tumor in the case of a subclinical (smoothed) course of the disease and do not know why the baby has a fever.
Antibodies in the blood
In the laboratory, in a blood sample, two main antibodies for mumps are sought: LgM and LgG. If only the LgM antibody is detected, then the disease has just begun, and literally lasts 1-2 days. But, if both are revealed, then the person is already recovering and from the moment of his correction for another 6 weeks this element of protection will last in the blood.
The presence of only LgG suggests that the child has been vaccinated and there are antibodies in the body, but if they are weak, another vaccination is probably needed. The absence of both antibodies in the blood sample means that there has never been an epidemic of mumps and the child has not been vaccinated.
How high is susceptibility to infection?
Since the incubation period is quite long, from 13 to 20 days, and many are asymptomatic, in the so-called subclinical form, then 98-100% of the group members become infected. A school outbreak can last almost 100 days. If you do not immediately vaccinate first graders, as it should be, at 6 or 7 years, during 1 outbreak, being on the total area, they will all become infected.
Parotitis. Vaccination
Immunization began in 1977, and from that moment on, the number of children affected by the disease dropped sharply.
Children are scheduled to take 2 vaccinations. The first is done in 1 year, the second in 7 years. If the child has already been ill with a mumps before the age of 7, he does not need vaccination, since the body develops a stable lifelong immunity.
Complications after childhood vaccination are, but rarely. Within 12 days, the temperature may rise and general weakness may be felt for the first 2-4 days. But all these symptoms are completely harmless in comparison with the danger posed by the live virus itself.
Contraindications for vaccination
In some cases, vaccinating a child is contraindicated. These are diagnosed epilepsy, immunodeficiency and tuberculosis. Indeed, against the background of tuberculosis, mumps is very often manifested.
Adults should not re-administer the vaccine. If in childhood two vaccinations were given, there is no risk. But, if for some reason one of them is missed, then it is worth revaccinating yourself a second time. Again, if there are no contraindications listed.
Pig treatment at home
As a treatment, only general analgesics are used, which help a little to transfer the fever and other unpleasant symptoms. The main rule for mumps is that treatment should be adequate. Do not immediately give antibiotics to the child.
Compliance with bed rest. Peace, local warmth and following a diet can greatly minimize the risks of complications.
Adults are prescribed antipyretic drugs at a temperature of “Paracetamol”, “Nurofen”. Panadol is more suitable for children and, in addition, babies are given vitamin complexes that help the body cope with heat. If necessary, your doctor may also prescribe antihistamines.
When the mumps is severe, and the body is too affected by microbial toxins, they must be taken to a hospital and detoxification is performed.
If signs of meningitis or orchitis are detected in boys, corticosteroids are prescribed. The course of treatment with these drugs is 5-7 days. However, it is better to call an ambulance and be treated already in a hospital.
But, the sooner the patient begins treatment, the easier the acute period will pass. At this time, more warm drink is needed. It is better to give a rosehip broth or just clean water. A lot of tea is needed, neither black nor green.
From food you can give puddings, yoghurts, but not too fat. A vegetable diet is good at this time. It is necessary to reduce or completely remove from the diet all flour products, fatty broths and pickles. And, if pain in the cheeks and throat area interferes with chewing and swallowing food, it is advisable to boil and grind the vegetables with a blender to make mashed potatoes.
Alternative methods of treating mumps
You can help not only with medicines, but also with the help of herbal decoctions. It is useful for patients to rinse the mouth and throat several times a day with a warm broth of sage. This plant has an excellent antiseptic effect and is also recommended for prolonged tonsillitis. Prescription for 2 tbsp. tablespoons of dry grass goes 2 cups boiling water. The mixture is infused for at least an hour, and filtered before rinsing. Apply 3 or 4 times a day at regular intervals.
Another effective method is crushed aloe leaves. From the pulp that will turn out, a compress is made, applied to the swollen cheek. Instead of aloe, grated root of ginger is also applied. Like many other spices, ginger has the ability to destroy pathogenic agents.
Disease prevention methods
So, we examined what is mumps. Prevention of the disease should be at the highest level in children's institutions. The most effective prevention is vaccination. We can’t know which one is surrounding the carrier of the virus, and it’s impossible to control children 24 hours a day. Especially if they already go to school.
If mumps virus is detected in a garden or school, quarantine should last at least 3 weeks. Patients are isolated for a period of at least 9 days, although clinical symptoms may disappear by 6-7 days.
All things that a sick child or adult touched must be disinfected. If these are soft toys, they need to be washed and boiled for at least 20 minutes. It is advisable to treat the entire apartment with a special solution that will kill the infection remaining on objects and furniture.