Childhood Diseases – On a Mission to Educate: Mumps
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In my last article, ” Childhood Diseases – On a Mission to Educate: Measles” I went over the very contagious respiratory infectious disease measles that causes a skin rash throughout the whole body. It’s symptoms are similar to the flu with fever, cough and a runny nose. At one point there was a push to eradicate this disease in the US through the use of vaccinations but more recently there have been breakouts of measles throughout the U.S. Because measles is a viral disease, one has to let it run its course as no medications can be used to treat it. Today we will go into the childhood disease of Mumps.
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What is Mumps?
Mumps is a contagious disease where a virus is passed through saliva, nasal secretions, and close personal contact. According to Healthline (https://www.healthline.com/health/mumps#what-is-mumps1) Mumps primarily affects the salivary glands, called the Parotid Glands. On each side of your face, there are three sets of salivary glands which are located behind and below your ears. When you get mumps, you will get a swelling of these glands, either on one side or both.
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Some Fact on Mumps?
The following are some key facts about mumps according to Medical News Today (https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/224382.php). The following are a few facts about mumps:
- Mumps is extremely contagious.
- Around 20 percent of people with the mumps virus show no symptoms.
- The MMR vaccine is incredibly safe.
- There is no antiviral treatment for mumps; only the symptoms can be treated.
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What Are the Symptoms of Mumps?
It takes about 2-3 weeks from the time when one is exposed to mumps for the symptoms to appear. In 20% of the people with the virus do not show any symptoms at all according to Medical News Today. The following is the list of symptoms which are flu-like:
- Body aches
- Headache
- Loss of appetite and/or nausea
- General fatigue
- Fever (low-grade)
The individual with mumps will eventually exhibit the classic symptoms of mumps where his/her Parotid Glands will become very painful and swell causing the cheeks to puff out. It is more common for the swelling and pain to come and go in waves.
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There are also associated symptoms which include the following:
- Pain in the sides of the face where it is swollen.
- Pain experienced when swallowing.
- Trouble swallowing.
- Fever (up to 103 degrees Fahrenheit).
- A dry mouth.
- Pain in joints.
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How Is Mumps Spread?
Mumps can spread in the same way that colds and the flu are spread. Through infected droplets of saliva that can be inhaled or picked up from surface areas and then transferred into the mouth or nose. This is why children have a tendency to get sick easily where they are in close proximity to other children. The infected person usually is the most contagious a few days before the symptoms develop and a few days afterward.
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How To Prevent Mump?
The best way to protect your child against mumps is by making sure he/she is given the combined MMR vaccine. This vaccination is part of the routine NHS childhood immunization schedule according to the NHS.UK (http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/mumps/Pages/Introduction.aspx). The first dose should be given when the child is around 12-13 months old. A second booster dose is administered before they begin school. It is estimated that both doses provides 95% protection against the mumps.
There are certain countries that the doctor may advise you to take the vaccine before traveling abroad. These countries include India, some part of Africa, Southeast Asia, Japan, Pakistan.
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Treatment For Mumps
Because Mumps is a virus, it does not respond to antibiotics or any other medication. So technically the treatment is to make the individual comfortable. Healthline gave the following as suggested ways to assist the ailing individual:
- Rest when you feel weak or tired.
- Take over-the-counter pain relievers, such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen, to bring down your fever.
- Soothe swollen glands by applying ice packs.
- Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration due to fever.
- Eat a soft diet of soup, yogurt, and other foods that aren’t hard to chew (chewing may be painful when your glands are swollen).
- Avoid acidic foods and beverages that may cause more pain in your salivary glands.
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Complications of Mumps
It should be pointed out that complications are more frequent in adults than children. According to Medical News Today (https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/224382.php) the following listed are the most common complications of mumps:
- Orchitis - testicles swell and become painful, this happens to 1 in 5 adult males with mumps. The swelling normally goes down within 1 week; tenderness can last longer than that. This rarely results in infertility.
- Oophoritis - ovaries swell and are painful; it occurs in 1 in 20 adult females. The swelling will subside as the immune system fights off the virus. This rarely results in infertility.
- Viral meningitis - this is one of the rarest of the common complications. It happens when the virus spreads through the bloodstream and infects the body's central nervous system (brain and spinal cord).
- Inflamed pancreas (pancreatitis) - pain will be experienced in the upper abdomen; this occurs in 1 out of 20 cases and is usually mild.
It was also pointed out by Medical New Today that if a pregnant woman gets the mumps in the first 12-16 weeks of her pregnancy there is a slight increase in the risk of a miscarriage
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There are also some rarer complications of mumps including Encephalitis where the brain swells causing neurological issues. This is extremely rare with just 1 in 6,000 cases. Another rare complication is Hearing Loss. This is the rarest being only 1 in 15,000 cases. It is highly recommended if you have any signs of these complications that you notify you physician as soon as possible.
History of Mumps
Just for fun I wanted to give you a little history of the mumps. The first documented clinical evidence of mumps goes back to the Greco-Roman times. The first effective vaccine against mumps was introduced in 1950-1978. This particular strain they used in this vaccine apparently had a very limited long term immunity. The current strain we use today provides 88% long term immunity. It was noted that prior to this routine administration of the MMR vaccine, there were approximately 186,000 cases of mumps per year in the US. With immunization, this number has fallen to 2,015.
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So in closing, mumps is a contagious disease caused by a virus that passes from one person to another through saliva, nasal secretions and close personal contact. There is no antibiotic or other medications to treat mumps because it is a viral infection which just has to run its course. Most children receive two doses of the mumps vaccination to prevent mumps from occurring but in more recent years there are occasionally some outbreaks that are reported throughout the country.
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I hope you learned something from this article about Mumps. There are many resources on the internet if you need more specific information. I will continue this series with another childhood disease post. I hope you will continue to join me in this quest to learn about these illnesses that children usually encounter when they are young. Thank-you for reading my article on Childhood Diseases – On a Mission to Educate: Mumps. If you would like to follow me, please check HERE
These are my previous articles. if you are interested in reading it:
Neuroplasticity: Hope For People With Anxiety?
https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/neuroplasticity-hope-for-people-with-anxiety
Neuroplasticity: How to deal with Anxiety Disorders Like Panic Attacks
https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/neuroplasticity-how-to-deal-with-anxiety-disorders-like-panic-attacks
Neuroplasticity: Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)
https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/neuroplasticity-cognitive-behavior-therapy-cbt
Neuroplasticity: Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy
https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/neuroplasticity-mindfulness-based-cognitive-therapy
Neuroplasticity: Self-Directed Neuroplasticity Exercises
https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/neuroplasticity-self-directed-neuroplasticity-exercises
Neuroplasticity: Music & Music Therapy
https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/neuroplasticity-music-and-music-therapy
Neuroplasticity: Meditation and Anxiety
https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/neuroplasticity-meditation-and-anxiety
Neuroplasticity: Brainwave Entrainment
https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/neuroplasticity-brainwave-entrainment
Anxiety and CBD: An Introduction to Cannabinoid
https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/anxiety-and-cbd-an-introduction-to-cannabinoid
Childhood Injuries: Concussions
https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/childhood-injuries-concussions
Childhood Injuries: Post Concussion Syndrome & Recovery & Safety Measures To Prevent Concussions
https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/childhood-injuries-post-concussion-syndrome-and-recovery-and-safety-measures-to-prevent-concussions
Youth Sports: The Benefits of Youth Sports & Increase Incidents of Concussions
https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/youth-sports-the-benefits-of-youth-sports-and-increase-incidents-of-concussions
Are You Ready For Some Football? - The Continuing Saga of Concussion & Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy in Former NFL Players & Other Concussion Victims
https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/are-you-ready-for-some-football-the-continuing-saga-of-concussion-and-chronic-traumatic-encephalopathy-in-former
An American Tragedy: Story of Mike Webster, Pro Hall of Famer & CTE
https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/an-american-tragedy-story-of-mike-webster-pro-hall-of-famer-and-cte
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy – The Tragedy Continues: Not Just In the NFL
https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/chronic-traumatic-encephalopathy-the-tragedy-continues-not-just-in-the-nfl
Should Our Children Be Playing Contact Sports or Not?: Dr. Bennet Omalu
https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/should-our-children-be-playing-contact-sports-or-not-dr-bennet-omalu
Teachers & Parents Beware of Impetigo: I Gave It To My Teacher
https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/teachers-and-parents-beware-of-impetigo-i-gave-it-to-my-teacher
Childhood Diseases –On a Mission to Learn: Chicken Pox
https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/childhood-diseases-on-a-mission-to-educate-chickenpox
Childhood Diseases – On a Mission to Educate: Strep Throat
https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/childhood-diseases-on-a-mission-to-educate-strep-throat
Childhood Diseases – On a Mission to Educate: Fifth Disease
https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/childhood-diseases-on-a-mission-to-educate-fifth-disease
Childhood Diseases – On a Mission to Educate: Measles
https://steemit.com/steemiteducation/@cabbagepatch/childhood-diseases-on-a-mission-to-educate-measles
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How can I prevent myself from contacting mumps if someone close to me already contacted it?
If you have had the vaccination it should protect you. If not you should always wash you hands before putting it near your nose or mouth. I would try to stay away from you friend until she is not contagious any more. Don't touch anything they touch and keep wiping the counters because the virus can survive for 2 hours. Good luck!
This is something very clever that you are doing, it is important to know about these diseases. Have a wonderful day.
Thank-you @bigbear, I've worked with so many children who suffered because their parents didn't know any better. That is why I am on a mission to educate!
Good post!!:)
Thank-you so much for your kind comments and support!
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