Where does mumps come from, what are its symptoms and how to treat it

What is mumps

Mumps is the colloquial name for mumps. This is a viral disease in which the parotid salivary glands become inflamed (the ancient Greek source words sound like “para” (“for”) and “titos” (“ear”)).

Inflammation has a characteristic Mumps symptom: the affected gland swells, greatly increases in size. Because of this, the neck in the upper part also begins to look too voluminous, almost equal in size to the head, like that of a pig. Hence the popular name of the disease.

But this is far from the only and not always a mandatory sign of mumps.

What are the symptoms of mumps

Most of the symptoms are Mumps. Signs and Symptoms appear a few days before swelling of the salivary glands occurs. Symptoms are similar to those of a common cold:

an increase in temperature, sometimes up to 39 ° C;
headache;
muscle pain and aches;
weakness, fatigue;
loss of appetite.

Sometimes these symptoms are very mild, and some infected people do not have them at all. Therefore, a person can catch a mumps and not even know about it.

In any case, the vast majority of people with mumps recover within a couple of weeks.

Why is mumps dangerous?

This ailment can be easily confused with much more serious diagnoses, such as tonsillitis or infectious mononucleosis. They are often accompanied by an increase in the cervical lymph nodes (outwardly it looks like an increase in the salivary glands) and sometimes lead to serious consequences, up to liver problems and rupture of the spleen. Therefore, it is so important at the first signs of the disease to contact a therapist or pediatrician so that he can make an accurate diagnosis.

But mumps itself can cause serious complications for Mumps. Complications. Here is some of them:

Infertility in men. Most often, mumps affects the salivary glands, but other glandular organs can also become inflamed - the same testicles (testes). It happens that due to illness, they decrease in size (atrophy) and the man remains sterile forever.
Inflammation of the ovaries in women. This will not affect the ability to become a mother, but if the disorder occurs in a pregnant woman, it increases the risk of miscarriage.
Mastitis is an inflammation of the breast tissue in women.
Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas.
Encephalitis is an inflammation of the brain.
Meningitis is an inflammation of the tissues that cover the brain and spinal cord.
Deafness.

Complications are rare, but no one can predict how the disease will develop in a particular case. Therefore, it is in your interests to do everything so as not to get infected yourself and to protect children from infection. Fortunately, this is not difficult.

How not to get sick with mumps

Mumps is a viral infection caused by a paramyxovirus. The disease is transmitted by airborne droplets - with particles of saliva, which an infected person sends into the surrounding space when talking, coughing, sneezing.

The pig has an important feature: in most cases, having had it once (usually in childhood), people acquire lifelong immunity. Therefore, scientists were able to create an effective vaccine Mumps. Vaccination against mumps.

The mumps vaccine is part of the combined MMR vaccine (measles, mumps, rubella).

The PDA is administered in two doses with an interval of at least 28 days. In a person who received both doses of the vaccine, the risk of contracting mumps is reduced by 88% (according to other sources Mumps - by 95%). In people who received one dose, it increased by 78%.

In Russia, the MMR vaccine is included in the National Vaccination Schedule of the National Vaccination Schedule and is mandatory for children under 12 years of age. Adults who were not vaccinated in childhood can also receive a PDA - free of charge, under the compulsory medical insurance policy. To do this, you need to contact your therapist at the district clinic.

How to treat mumps

As with most viral diseases, there are no pills for mumps. The doctor can only prescribe symptomatic treatment, the purpose of which is to relieve symptoms and help the body to cope with the disease faster. This therapy includes Mumps:

Bed rest, especially in the first days of illness.
Drink plenty of fluids. At a temperature, the body actively loses moisture, and its amount needs to be restored: fluid is required for the correct functioning of the immune system.
If necessary, take over-the-counter pain relievers such as paracetamol and ibuprofen. Never give aspirin to children under the age of 14!
Compresses. Applying a warm or cool (feel-like) compress to the inflamed gland will ease the pain.

Let us remind you once again: self-medication for symptoms of mumps is unacceptable. Be sure to see a doctor. And tell him about any deterioration in your health that worries you - this is important so as not to miss the development of albeit unlikely, but still possible complications.