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Mumps
How is mumps treated in children?
The mumps we commonly refer to as children's mumps is epidemic mumps, which is prevalent among children and is a contagious disease caused by the mumps virus. It commonly occurs in the autumn and winter seasons and presents symptoms like fever and swollen salivary glands, along with general discomfort. It also frequently leads to complications such as meningitis, orchitis, and oophoritis. Patients may experience mild pain and increased pain when opening the mouth to eat. In such cases, it is important to isolate the patient, ensure bed rest until the swelling of the salivary glands completely subsides, and maintain oral cleanliness. Avoid acidic foods that may irritate the mouth, ensure adequate fluid intake, and focus on symptomatic treatment. Since antibiotics are ineffective against the mumps virus, severe cases may require antiviral medication treatment and attention to local swelling and pain relief, hoping for a swift recovery. (Please use medication under the guidance of a medical professional.)
Is mumps contagious?
Mumps may be contagious as it is often caused by infection with the mumps virus. Initially, the virus can spread through daily activities, especially through close contact, infecting others. This rate of contagion and incidence is relatively higher among children and adolescents. In terms of treatment, it is advised to undergo a parotid gland ultrasound and a routine blood test. If it is determined to be an acute bacterial infection, antibiotics should be considered. If it is a viral infection causing inflammation, antiviral medications should be considered. Additionally, topical ointments including traditional Chinese medicine or herbal remedies may be applied externally to reduce swelling, kill bacteria, and disinfect. (Please use medications under the guidance of a professional physician and do not self-medicate.)
What are the early symptoms of mumps?
Mumps has a significant impact on the human body, especially in children. Its complications include orchitis, pneumonia, etc., seriously affecting human health. Mumps can be categorized into purulent, immune, and epidemic types. Generally, when we refer to mumps, it is usually epidemic mumps, which has a relatively sudden onset and is caused by the mumps virus. Early symptoms include swelling of the parotid gland, with early redness and swelling at the opening of the parotid duct, and as it progresses, swelling around the earlobe. This can also lead to a lack of strength in the masseter muscles, affecting eating, localized skin heating, and severe cases may have headaches, fever, and loss of appetite among other systemic manifestations.
Can mumps cause facial paralysis?
Mumps generally does not cause facial paralysis. This disease is an inflammation caused by a viral infection of the salivary glands. Patients mainly exhibit symptoms of redness, swelling, heat, and pain in the area of the salivary glands, primarily located behind the ears. It occurs mostly in children, but adults can also contract the disease. Treatment mainly involves antiviral medications and drugs that clear heat and detoxify, as well as possible physical therapy. Facial paralysis, also known as facial neuritis, is caused by a viral invasion that leads to the demyelination of the facial nerve. This might also be related to exposure to cold winds. The main symptoms include paralysis of the facial expression muscles affecting the eyelids and other facial features, which may lead to widened eye slits, disappearance of forehead lines, flattening of the nasolabial fold, and deviation of the mouth corner. There may also be issues such as air leakage while whistling.
How to distinguish between toothache and mumps
Tooth pain and mumps are easy to distinguish. First, when a tooth has a deep cavity, it becomes sensitive to hot and cold stimuli, producing transient pain. If there is periapical periodontitis or pulpitis, the pain becomes spontaneous and persists, worsening at night and becoming intolerable. If a patient has mumps, there is usually swelling and pain in the head and face, centered around the earlobe. Upon examination, the opening of the parotid duct inside the mouth is visibly swollen and pus is discharged when pressed.
Is mumps infectious during the incubation period?
We generally distinguish three types of mumps: epidemic mumps, suppurative mumps, and immune mumps. However, the most commonly seen type is epidemic mumps, which is caused by the mumps virus and is an acute respiratory infectious disease characterized by the swelling of the salivary glands. Patients with mumps are infectious during the incubation period. Research has shown that the virus can be detected from 7 days before the swelling of the salivary glands to 9 days after the swelling, approximately lasting a week. This indicates that these two weeks are the infectious period. Therefore, when we identify patients with mumps, it is crucial to isolate them in a timely manner and provide treatment to prevent the spread of the infection to others.
best method to treat mumps
The best treatment for mumps mainly depends on the specific condition of the child. If it is bacterial mumps, give the child some anti-infection drugs for treatment, and if there is suppuration, antibacterial treatment is necessary, along with standardized treatment. There is also epidemic mumps. If it is epidemic mumps, it is necessary to apply topical medications and timely administer oral antiviral drugs to the child because epidemic mumps is a self-healing infectious disease. Pay attention to a light, easily digestible diet, and avoid giving the child spicy and greasy foods.
What is mumps?
Mumps is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by the mumps virus that invades the parotid glands. It primarily occurs in children and adolescents and is transmitted through respiratory droplets, often causing epidemics in classrooms. Clinically it presents with fever, swelling and pain in the parotid gland area, and body temperatures can reach up to 40°C. There can also be complications such as meningitis, meningoencephalitis, orchitis, oophoritis, and pancreatitis. To manage mumps, it is advisable to avoid acidic foods, maintain oral hygiene, and rinse the mouth with saline after meals. Pain relief medication can be used for headaches and pain in the swollen parotid glands. For testicular swelling and pain, local cold compresses or support with cotton padding and a jockstrap can be helpful. Proper supplementation with water, electrolytes, and energy is important. Antiviral medications can be used early on, and diuretics can be added for severe headaches and vomiting. In severe cases or those with complications like meningoencephalitis or myocarditis, steroids may be administered.
Can hot compresses be used to reduce swelling in mumps?
Patients with mumps can use hot compresses as an adjunct treatment, but hot compresses usually do not reduce swelling. Mumps is generally caused by bacterial or viral infections, so the local swelling is not directly related to the patient's stagnation of blood. Although hot compresses can alleviate some pain, they cannot invigorate the blood and dissipate blood stasis; therefore, they do not effectively reduce swelling. It is recommended that patients with viral mumps undergo antiviral treatment, while those with bacterial mumps should receive anti-inflammatory treatment. Additionally, during treatment, it is important to ensure proper isolation to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
Is mumps contagious?
Mumps is contagious and mainly occurs in children and adolescents. Therefore, parents should take timely protective measures for children with mumps to prevent the infection from spreading to other children. Mumps is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by the mumps virus invading the salivary glands. It is primarily transmitted through respiratory droplets, and its main clinical symptoms include fever and painful swelling in the parotid gland area, with body temperatures potentially reaching up to 40 degrees Celsius. Complications such as meningitis, meningoencephalitis, orchitis, oophoritis, and pancreatitis may also occur. For adults or children who have been infected with mumps before, the disease is not contagious again, as there are antibodies against the mumps virus in the body to resist the infection.