The disease still maintains its importance due to the possibility of an epidemic of the disease and complications such as testicular infection (orchitis and oophoritis), meningitis, and hearing loss. Mumps is a contagious viral disease that usually occurs in school-aged children.
The most common age of the disease is between 5-9 years. The MMR vaccine prevents the disease. People with mumps should stay away from others for up to nine days after the swelling begins to prevent transmission.
Serious problems such as hearing loss are very rare in mumps. The virus is excreted in the urine for 2 weeks from the onset of clinical disease. The disease goes away on its own after a while. Today, thanks to the mumps vaccine administered in childhood, the disease has been largely prevented all over the world.
How to find?
Mumps infection is transmitted by coughing and airborne. In addition, glasses, cutlery, etc. It can also be transmitted through personal belongings.
Mumps patients can transmit the disease to others, starting seven days before their salivary glands begin to swell and up to nine days later.
The most contagious period of the disease is between 2 days before and 4 days after the onset of symptoms. Anyone who has not been vaccinated and has never had mumps before is at risk.
Symptoms
- It is the swollen salivary glands that cause the cheeks to swell. One or both of the salivary glands near the ear (inside the cheeks, near the jawbone, under the ears) are most affected.
- Pain when chewing or swallowing
- Fire
- Headache
- muscle pains
- Weakness and fatigue
- anorexia
- If your child has these symptoms, consult your doctor immediately. Mumps virus can be transmitted to other people 9 days after being infected. Mumps is usually very severe, especially in people who get the disease after puberty.
How Is Mumps Diagnosed?
It is determined by the doctor through a physical examination, evaluation of symptoms, and examination of a blood sample in the laboratory to detect the presence of the virus.
How are mumps treated?
There is no cure for mumps. Treatment is aimed at relieving complaints. Simple pain relievers can reduce pain and fever. The patient cannot taste, but bitter, sour, sweet, salty, and sharp tastes should be avoided. Pain relievers can be given, and rest is required.
Putting hot and cold compresses on the swollen gland can reduce the pain. The disease resolves spontaneously within 5–6 days, at the latest within a week. People with mumps should stay away from kindergartens, school, and work for nine days from the date the swelling starts.
People with mumps are usually not contagious. They can safely return to work or school about five days after signs and symptoms appear.
Since mumps is a virus that affects the glands, it can cause encephalitis, brain inflammation, and pancreatitis, i.e., pancreatitis, at a rate of 20%.
It can cause an infection in the testicles and ovaries called orchitis. Orchitis is a serious condition that can lead to infertility. Therefore, if these diseases occur, they must be treated.
If the mumps patient vomits excessively, has a severe headache, abdominal pain, swelling, redness, or pain in the ovaries, it is necessary to consult a doctor immediately. If your child has mumps, after the first doctor's visit, watch closely for the following symptoms:
- fever of 39°C or higher
- difficulty eating or drinking
- Confusion or disorientation
- Stomach ache
- Pain and swelling in the testicles in men
- When Should Mumps Vaccination Be Made?
- In our country, the mumps vaccine is administered as a triple vaccine at the end of the 12th month and in the first grade of primary education. This vaccine protects against measles, rubella, and mumps.