Mumps - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Mumps is a disease caused by a virus that usually spreads through saliva and can infect many parts of the body, especially the parotid salivary glands. Mumps can also cause inflammation of other tissues, most frequently the covering and substance of the central nervous system, the pancreas and, after adolescence, the ovary and the testis. These glands, which produce saliva for the mouth, are found toward the back of each cheek, in the area between the ear and jaw. Painful swelling of the salivary glands (classically the parotid gland ) and fever is the most typical presentation. Painful testicular swelling and rash may also occur. While symptoms are generally not severe in children, the symptoms in teenagers and adults can be more severe and complications such as infertility or subfertility are relatively common, although still rare in absolute terms. The disease is generally self-limiting, and there is no specific treatment apart from controlling the symptoms with painkillers .

Mumps is an acute, inflammatory, contagious disease. Prior to the development of vaccination and the introduction of a vaccine, it was a common childhood disease worldwide, and is still a significant threat to health in the third world. Mumps was common until the mumps vaccine was licensed in 1967. Before the vaccine, more than 200,000 cases occurred each year in the United States. Since then the number of cases has dropped to fewer than 1,000 a year, and epidemics have become fairly rare. As in the prevaccine era, most cases of mumps are still in children ages 5 to 14, but the proportion of young adults who become infected has been rising slowly over the last two decades. Mumps infections are uncommon in children younger than 1 year old. After a case of mumps it is very unusual to have a second bout because one attack of mumps almost always gives lifelong protection against another. Mumps is also known as infectious or epidemic parotitis.

Causes of Mumps

Common Causes of Mumps :

• Paramyxovirus.
• Dietic errors.
• Lack of immunization.
• Droplets from coughs & sneezes.
• Mumps occurs most often in children ages two through twelve, although unvaccinated adults are also susceptible.
• Mumps is mainly caused by a virus. The incubation period is from 16-18 days, ranging from 12-25 days after exposure. The period when someone is most infectious to others is from 1-2 days before and 5 days after the onset of swelling in the glands.
• Mumps is spread through direct contact with saliva, e.g. kissing or sharing objects contaminated with infected saliva (e.g. cups, cutlery). The mumps virus is also present in nasal and throat discharge.

Symptoms of Mumps

Some of the common sign and symptoms of the diseaseMumps are as follows:

• Face pain.
• Loss of appetite
• Fever.
• Headache.
• Seizures.
• Chills.
• Sore throat.
• Lack of energy.
• Swelling of the parotid glands.
• Testicle lump.

Treatment of Mumps

Find effective treatment methods of treating Mumps :

• Treatment is with rest and non-aspirin pain relievers to ease pain in swollen areas.
• If the patient can't swallow, I.V. fluid replacement may be necessary.
• There is no treatment for mumps. All that can be done is to allow the disease to run its course. However, steps can be taken to make the patient more comfortable.
• The standard MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine is now given in two dosages. The first should be given at 12-15 months of age. The second vaccination should be given at 4-6 years.
• Some patients find that acupressure can help relieve the pain of swollen glands.