Mumps
A viral infection impacts the salivary glands surrounding your ears, known as mumps. One or both of these glands may enlarge as a result of mumps.
Symptoms
Some mumps virus patients have either no symptoms or only very minor ones. When signs and symptoms manifest, they typically do so two to three weeks after viral contact.
The main mumps symptom is swollen salivary glands that cause the cheeks to swell outward.
Other warning signs and symptoms could be:
- One or both sides of the face might experience pain from swollen salivary glands.
- Discomfort when chewing or swallowing
- Fever
- Headache
- Muscle pain
- Fatigue and weakness
- Reduced appetite
Consult the doctor
If you notice you might have mumps, it’s critical to see a doctor to make a diagnosis.
Although the mumps is typically not a severe ailment, tonsillitis and glandular fever are more serious infections that share symptoms with the mumps.
If you plan to visit the office, let your doctor know in advance so they can arrange whatever steps are required to stop the infection from spreading.
What causes mumps?
A virus that quickly spreads from person to person through infected saliva is the source of mumps. If you are not immune, sneezing or coughing saliva droplets from an infected person can cause you to get the mumps.
Prevention and treatments for mumps
Ensure you have the combined MMR vaccine for mumps, measles, and rubella to protect them against mumps.
Currently, there is no cure for mumps, but the infection should pass within 1 or 2 weeks.
Treatments used to relieve symptoms include:
- Get sound sleep and rest
- Use painkillers, such as ibuprofen and paracetamol
- compress the swollen glands to help relieve pain with a warm or cool bag
Reviewed by – Dr. Priyanka, MBBS MD Microbiology
Page last reviewed: 16 JULY 2022