Early symptoms of mumps, also known as mumps and mumps, may take 14 to 25 days to emerge, and the most common sign is swelling between the ear and chin due to inflammation of the parotid glands, which are saliva-producing glands, when they are affected by the virus.
Mumps are an infectious disease that can be transmitted from person to person by air. Although this disease is more common in children and adolescents, it can also occur in adults, even if they have already been vaccinated against mumps.
Main symptoms
If you think you may have mumps, please note your symptoms:
- 1. Constant head and face pain
- 2. Loss of appetite Yes No
- 3. Dry mouth feeling Yes No
- 4. Swelling of the face between the ear and the chin
- 5. Pain when swallowing or opening mouth Yes No
- 6. Fever above 38º C Yes No
The swelling of the mumps has a gelatinous consistency when palpated and reaches its peak between the 3rd and 7th day, decreasing gradually after this period.
In addition, some men may also experience symptoms of pain, discomfort, swelling and heat sensation in the testicles, which may be an indication that the disease has gone down to the testicles and is causing inflammation. Learn how this can happen in understanding why mumps can cause infertility in men.
What is mumps
Mumps are a disease caused by a virus that sets in the salivary glands causing swelling in the face and pain. Children are most often infected with the virus, even those who are vaccinated.
The diagnosis is made by the pediatrician or the general practitioner based on the symptoms presented and the treatment is done so as to alleviate the symptoms.
How to get mumps
The infected person can already transmit the virus to other people through the saliva droplets when speaking, coughing or sneezing about 5 days before the symptoms begin to manifest.
The period of greatest risk of mumps transmission is 2 days before and 2 days after the onset of symptoms, but small virus particles have already been found in saliva samples 9 days after the onset of symptoms and therefore, for safety reasons, the person is considered noncommunicable only 9 days after the onset of symptoms.
Mumps in pregnancy is serious as it can lead to miscarriage. Therefore, it is important that the pregnant women have the vaccine up to date and avoid contact with possible objects and people who may have the virus.
Vaccinated people can also be contaminated
People who have ever had mumps in their lives usually get immune to the disease and therefore are not at risk of being infected again. However, this effect does not occur with the vaccine used against mumps, which is part of the basic schedule of childhood vaccination, as it only gives 96% protection, which does not guarantee protection in all cases.
In addition, the effect of the vaccine lasts about 20 years, which can lead to the onset of the disease in adults who are in direct contact with infected children after that period, for example.
How is the diagnosis made?
The diagnosis is made from the observation of the symptoms, that is, if there is swelling of the gland, if the patient complains of fever, headaches and loss of appetite. The doctor may also request some confirmatory examination, usually blood test to see if there is the production of antibodies against the mumps virus.
How to Identify Mumps in the Baby
The symptoms of infant mumps are the same. However, if the child has difficulty speaking or does not know how to express himself, he or she may become irritated, lose appetite, and cry more easily until fever and swelling of the face are observed.
As soon as the baby shows the first symptoms, it is advised to go to the pediatrician so that the treatment can be started.
Treatment for mumps
Treatment of mumps is done to alleviate the symptoms of the disease and therefore may include the use of analgesics, such as Paracetamol, to reduce discomfort.
In addition, rest, water intake and pasty feeding are also important to improve the symptoms until the body is able to eliminate the mumps virus.
A great home remedy for mumps is to gargle with lukewarm water and salt as this reduces inflammation of the glands, relieving swelling and pain. Learn more details about mumps treatment.
How to avoid illness
The main way to avoid mumps is from vaccination as early as the first year of life and keep the vaccination portfolio up to date.
It is also important to disinfect contaminated objects with throat, mouth and nose secretions, and avoid contact with other people if you are infected.
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