Mumps

           Mumps

Mumps is a relatively mild short-term viral infection of the salivary glands that usually occurs during childhood. Typically, mumps is characterized by a painful swelling of both cheek areas, although the person could have swelling on one side or no perceivable swelling at all. The salivary glands are also called the parotid glands; therefore, mumps is sometimes referred to as an inflammation of the parotid glands (epidemic parotitis). The word mumps comes from an old English dialect word that means lumps or bumps within the cheeks.

Mumps are spread through respiratory droplets released when an infected person sneezes or coughs, or through direct contact with saliva, respiratory droplets or objects handled by an infected person. The mumps virus enters the body through the nasal passages or mouth and replicates in the nasopharynx and lymph nodes. Twelve (12) to 25 days later, the virus enters the bloodstream (viremia) and spreads to a number of tissues and glands (meninges, salivary, pancreas, testes and ovaries). Inflammation of the infected tissues results in the characteristic symptoms of mumps. Inflammation of the parotid salivary glands (parotitis) near the jaw line of the cheek occurs in up to 40% of those infected. Parotitis may be unilateral (one-side) or bilateral (both sides) resulting in the characteristic puffy-jaw chipmunk appearance associated with mumps infection.

 Treatment and Prevention

There is no specific treatment for mumps and it should be allowed to run its course. Paracetamol can be used for the pain and fever but aspirin should be avoided as its use may be linked to Reye’s syndrome. Bed rest, a healthy diet and plenty of fluids will help your body overcome the infection, which usually lasts for 2 weeks

Mumps infection should be prevented and most children are vaccinated for mumps. The use of the MMR vaccine (measles-mumps-rubella) is widely used these days and parents should not be concerned about its links to autism as this is totally unfounded. Parents who opt for complementary medicine like homeopathy for their children should not avoid the vaccine as the complications from mumps can be severe. If you have previously had the mumps, then you will have natural immunity and you do not have to be too concerned about contracting the infection again.