- This medical condition of the throat occurs mainly in children. The medical term is ‘epidemic parotitis’ and is contagious by nature. It is an airborne infection caused by direct contact with the infected person. Once the infection has run its course, the person is immune for the rest of his life. Reinfections of mumps are mild and minimal.
Causes of mumps
- The causal factor of mumps is usually an infection involving one or both Parotid Salivary glands. It is caused by a virus commonly known as Mumps Virus. The virus is transmitted via respiratory droplets during sneezing or coughing in children.
Symptoms of mumps
Signs & Symptoms of mumps start after 16-18 days of exposure. It includes painful swelling of parotid salivary glands, fever, muscle pain, loss of appetite, headache and tiredness.
Complications of mumps
In some cases, the disease can lead to further complications like ‘brain infections’, ‘permanent deafness’, ‘painful swelling of testicles in men and swelling of the ovaries in women and pancreatitis.
Treatment for mumps
Our ENT Doctor usually advises the local application of ice or heat on the affected part, analgesics, warm salt water gargle, soft food, and liquid diet, ample rest and avoiding acidic foods as it causes pain in the salivary glands.
Prevention of Mumps
It is possible to prevent getting ‘Mumps’ by taking the precautionary MMR vaccine which is available in our ENT Hospital in Coimbatore and the infected people is vaccinated by our ENT Specialists. This is usually taken between the ages of 12 and 15 months as a routine visit to the paediatrician. MMR vaccine includes the vaccine for ‘Measles’ and ‘Rubella’ also.
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