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Mumps, whose scientific name is parotiditis, are caused by a severe viral infection in the salivary glands especially in the parotid. |
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Mumps, whose scientific name is parotiditis, are caused by a severe viral infection in the salivary glands especially in the parotid.
It’s a common disease in childhood and once a patient suffers it, he is immunized for the rest of his life. It is more frequently suffered buy children aged 5-14. it’s less contagious than other diseases proper of childhood but the contagion can happen during the two days previous to the inflammation and up to the seven days after it subsides. It is transmitted through the saliva when sneezing or coughing, and the virus enters through the mouth or the respiratory tract. Mumps have an incubation period of two to three weeks until the inflammation appears. Adults may be infected with it and in this case the symptoms are more acute and the complications more severe.
SYMPTOMS
The most noticeably symptom is the swelling of the salivary glands that are located in both sides of the face, more precisely under the ears, between the jaw and the jawbone.
The inflammation can affect both parotids at the same time. Generally, it starts in one of them and then spreads to the other. The process includes fever. The pain is intense, especially when swallowing and opening the mouth.
COMPLICATIONS
Mumps generally have a mild prognosis, although there are several complications (such as meningoencefalitis) caused by the spreading of the virus to other parts of the body.
In adult males, the inflammation of the testicles (orquitis) appears in up to 30% of the cases. Usually, only one of the testicles is swollen and it causes pain for three to five days. Doctors recommend to rest and apply ice cubes in the swollen region. This inconvenient doesn’t cause sterility or impotence, although it may cause an atrophy of the testicles.
Serious complications don’t happen frequently and they usually happen to adults.
TREATMENT
Since mumps are a viral infection, there isn’t a specific treatment for them. When the condition isn’t serious, it’s advisable to take an analgesic for the pain. If the infection is more severe, the best thing to do is rest and drink a lot of water.
If there are no complications, the patient should be completely healed in ten days. |
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