Symptoms of mumps

Written by Zhang Cui Xiang
Pediatrics
Updated on September 10, 2024
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There are many types of mumps, with acute suppurative mumps being common. In the early stages of inflammation, the symptoms are relatively mild and not obvious. If the condition continues to develop, pain in the parotid region becomes apparent, with slight swelling and tenderness in the parotid area, and mild redness and pain at the duct opening. As the disease progresses further to the stage of suppuration and necrosis of the parotid tissue, continuous pain in the parotid area, or throbbing pain, becomes evident. The swelling centered around the parotid area and earlobe becomes more prominent. At this point, massaging the gland can exude pus from the duct opening. Treatment mainly involves maintaining oral hygiene and administering systemic anti-inflammatory treatment. If an abscess forms, incision and drainage are performed.

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How is mumps caused?

There are several causes of mumps, which can be infectious, immune, obstructive, and idiopathic. The commonly referred mumps primarily refers to epidemic mumps, a prevalent infectious disease caused by the mumps virus infection in humans. Additionally, there is suppurative mumps, an acute bacterial condition mainly caused by Staphylococcus aureus, followed by Streptococcus. Some immune types of mumps, like Sjögren's syndrome, can cause chronic, autoimmune, and immune mumps. Therefore, identifying the cause of mumps and providing timely symptomatic treatment is essential.

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Treatment methods for children's mumps

Mumps currently has no specific antiviral treatment; treatment is primarily symptomatic. It is important to maintain oral cleanliness, provide a light diet, avoid acidic foods, and drink plenty of water. For symptoms such as high fever and headache, or concurrent inflammation of the testicles, antipyretic analgesics should be administered. Traditional Chinese medicine treatments often involve clearing heat and detoxifying, softening hardness and relieving pain. Common treatments include modified Puji Xiaodu Yin taken orally or Qing Dai mixed with vinegar applied topically. Under medical guidance, ribavirin can be used in the early stages of the disease, administered intravenously at a dose of 10 to 15 milligrams per kilogram of body weight per day, with a treatment course of 5 to 7 days. Corticosteroids may be used for severe cases for a short course of three to five days.

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The contagious period of mumps is how many days?

Mumps is contagious and is mainly caused by viral mumps, also known as epidemic mumps. It is caused by the mumps virus, an acute respiratory infectious disease, and is mainly transmitted through droplets. The main patients are school-age children. The contagious period of mumps is generally about 2 to 3 weeks, during which it is highly contagious and requires isolation and treatment. Since the viral infection in the patient's body starts a few days before the symptoms appear, and is contagious until the swelling of the parotid glands subsides, isolation is advisable within 2 to 3 weeks.

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What are the early symptoms of mumps?

Mumps in children is a contagious disease, and its complications can cause significant damage to the body. Its early symptoms often manifest as swelling below the earlobe, sometimes starting on one side and then appearing on the opposite side a few days later, or swelling can occur simultaneously on both sides, including the entire area around the earlobe, often with noticeable redness and tenderness. Additionally, affected children may also experience fever, headache, sore throat, loss of appetite, and nausea. Diagnosis can be confirmed through lymph nodes in the neck and an ultrasound of the parotid gland, and it can also be diagnosed by complete blood count and antibody tests to provide symptomatic treatment.

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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.