Mumps is a viral infection of the salivary glands that is most common in children between the ages of 2 and 12, unvaccinated adults who have never had mumps can also get it. The virus spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Mumps can be uncomfortable rather than serious and the symptoms generally go away in 7 to 10 days.
Young boys can be prone to a very painful symptom: which is inflamed testes. While a girl may feel pain in the lower abdomen. This discomfort could pass within 4 days. Occasionally the swelling causes sterility, so check with your doctor if you have concerns.
Because of an effective vaccine, mumps is uncommon. Once a person has had mumps, he or she is immune and is not likely to get it again.
Mumps Symptoms:
- Low fever around 101 degrees.
- Headache.
- Loss of appetite.
- Fatigue.
- Swollen glands in the neck below the ear near the jawbone, on one or both sides.
- Earache .
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Swelling in one or both testes in boys and swelling in ovaries for girls (sometimes) .
Mumps Prevention:
- Make sure your child gets the MMR vaccine for measles mumps and rubella.
- The MMR should be given at 12 or 18 months, with a booster at 4 or 6 years.
- To prevent others from catching mumps, keep the child away from school or day care for 7 to 10 days after the swelling appears.
Home remedies for mumps:
Some of the effective home remedies for mumps are listed below:
- Call your doctor for advice if you suspect your child has mumps.
- Be sure your child gets lots of rest while he or she has a fever .
- The child need not be in the bed the whole day - quite play can be fine.
- Provide plenty of liquids and soft foods, such as soups, cooked vegetables, and fruits.
- Don't offer sour foods or fruits as they can make swollen salivary glands more sore.
- Avoid giving the child any spicy food as spicy food causes contraction of the salivary glands in turn causing discomfort.
- To soothe swollen places, try warm or cold packs. Whichever makes you feel better.
- Give acetaminophen or ibrufen to ease the pain and reduce the fever.
If natural home remedies can't cure, call a doctor when:
- If your child has the symptoms of mumps and a severe headache or neck pain.
- If your child has mumps and feels severe abdominal pain or vomits. This could signal an inflamed pancreas.
- If the child is listless and behaves oddly it could mean Meningitis.
