Parotitis is a disease caused by a viral infection that causes swelling of the parotid glands on the face. This disease, known as mumps, can be prevented by vaccination.
Parotitis or mumps is caused by a viral infection paramyxovirus which attacks the salivary glands (parotid glands) in the mouth. This infection can cause swelling and pain in the gland.
The virus that causes parotitis is transmitted through splashes of saliva when someone with parotitis sneezes or coughs. In addition, direct contact with objects that have been contaminated with the virus can also increase the risk of contracting this disease.
In general, parotitis can affect anyone regardless of age. However, this disease is more common in children aged 5-9 years.
What are the Symptoms of Parotitis?
Parotitis often causes no symptoms or causes only mild symptoms. This disease sometimes also causes flu-like symptoms. The following are some of the symptoms of parotitis that generally appear:
- Fever
- Swollen and painful salivary glands or cheeks
- Pain in the cheek that gets worse when swallowing, talking, chewing, or consuming acidic foods and drinks
- Fatigue
- Muscle ache
- Pain or discomfort in the ear
- Headache
- Loss of appetite
- Mouth feels dry
- Stomach ache
Symptoms of parotitis usually go away on their own within 4-8 days. However, medical treatment should still be done to relieve symptoms and prevent complications.
Are There Complications Due to Parotitis?
Although rare and self-limiting, parotitis can also cause complications. Complications are more often experienced by patients with parotitis in adolescents and adults or people who have never received the mumps or MMR vaccine.
There are several complications that can occur due to parotitis, including:
- Orchitis
- Meningitis
- Encephalitis
- Pancreatitis
- Hearing disorders
- Miscarriage in pregnant women
What are the Treatments for Parotitis?
There is no specific drug to treat mumps or parotitis. Generally, parotitis will heal on its own in less than 2 weeks. Medication only aims to relieve symptoms.
The following are some treatment steps to relieve symptoms and speed up the recovery process of parotitis:
- Take pain relievers and fever reducers, such as paracetamol. Do not give aspirin to children with parotitis, because it can cause Reye's syndrome which can lead to liver failure and death.
- Get plenty of rest and drink water to prevent dehydration due to fever.
- Eat soft-textured foods, such as porridge, and avoid foods that require you to chew too much.
- Avoid acidic foods and drinks because they can stimulate pain in the parotid gland.
- Compress the swollen cheek with warm or cold water to help relieve the pain.
If you experience pain and swelling in the testicles (testes) due to parotitis, immediately consult a doctor for further treatment. Doctors will usually give painkillers with stronger doses to relieve the symptoms of the disease.
How to Prevent Parotitis?
Parotitis often affects children who have not had the MMR vaccine. The MMR vaccine is a combination vaccine that functions to protect the body from three diseases, namely mumps (parotitis/mumps).mumps), measles (measles), and German measles (rubella).
To prevent parotitis in children, take the child to the doctor to get the MMR vaccine. The recommended MMR vaccine schedule is when children are 15 months and 5 years old. Adults who have never had the MMR vaccine are also advised to get the vaccine.
However, for adults who have a weak immune system, are allergic to gelatin or neomycin, and pregnant women, it is not recommended to get the MMR vaccination. Therefore, if you have these conditions, you should consult your doctor first before getting the MMR vaccine.