Mumps is inflammation parotid gland due to viral infection. Mumps is marked with swelling of the cheeks sufferer. This condition can be contagious and generally affects children.
The parotid gland is located under the ear. This gland functions to produce saliva. Mumps occurs when the parotid gland becomes inflamed due to a viral infection of the group paramyxovirus. The virus can easily spread to other people through splashes of saliva or mucus that come out of the mouth or nose.
Causes of Mumps
Mumps is caused by a viral infection of the class paramyxovirus. This virus spreads through droplets, which are splashes of saliva and mucus that come out of the mouth and nose of the sufferer. The virus that enters will stay, multiply, and cause inflammation and swelling of the parotid gland.
The spread of this virus can easily occur when:
- Inhaled droplets of mucus when the sufferer coughs, sneezes, and talks
- Touching objects that are around the patient, then touching the nose and mouth without washing hands first
- Make direct contact with the patient, for example kissing
- Sharing eating and drinking utensils with sufferers
There are several factors that can increase the risk of mumps, namely:
- Have not received the MMR vaccine to prevent measles, mumps, and rubella
- 2–12 years old
- Have a weak immune system, for example due to HIV/AIDS, long-term use of corticosteroid drugs, or chemotherapy
- Live or travel to an area that has a lot of mumps cases
Symptoms of Mumps
Symptoms of mumps usually only appear 14-25 days after being infected with the virus. Mumps is characterized by swelling of the parotid gland and symptoms of an infectious disease.
The following are some of the symptoms that will occur when mumps occurs:
- Swollen cheeks, can be only one side or both sides, due to swelling of the parotid gland
- Fever
- Pain when chewing or swallowing food
- dry mouth
- Headache
- Joint pain
- Stomach pain
- Loss of appetite
In some people with mumps, the symptoms that arise may be milder, and can even resemble the symptoms of a cold. Some sufferers do not even experience any symptoms.
When to go to the doctor
Check with your doctor if you or your child experience the symptoms of mumps mentioned above. Early treatment can prevent complications.
It is necessary to see a doctor immediately if you or your child experience more serious symptoms, such as:
- Severe headache
- Neck feels stiff
- Very heavy drowsiness
- Seizures
- Loss of consciousness or fainting
Do control or check back to the doctor if after 7 days the symptoms do not improve.
Mumps Diagnosis
The doctor will ask questions about the symptoms experienced by the patient, the patient's medical history and immunizations, as well as the presence or absence of risk factors for mumps, such as a history of interacting with people with mumps or traveling to areas that have cases of mumps.
After that, the doctor will examine the patient's swollen cheek or neck, and see the condition of the patient's throat and tonsils.
To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor will perform supporting examinations in the form of:
- Saliva swab test, to detect the type of microorganism that causes mumps
- Blood test, to detect infection in the blood
- Urine test, to confirm and detect the spread of infection to the urinary tract
Mumps Treatment
If the patient's immune system is good, mumps can recover on its own within 1-2 weeks. Some ways that can be done to relieve complaints and symptoms that appear when suffering from mumps are:
- Increase rest and get enough sleep
- Drink more water
- Compressing the swollen area with warm or cold water to relieve pain
- Eat soft foods so you don't have to chew too much
- Taking fever and pain relievers, such as ibuprofen and paracetamol
Mumps Complications
In addition to attacking the parotid gland, the virus that causes mumps can also spread and infect other parts of the body. This spread can lead to several complications, such as:
- Inflammation of the testicles (orchitis)
- Swelling of the ovaries or ovaries
- Inflammation of the mammary glands (mastitis)
- Acute pancreatitis
- Inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord (meningitis)
- Inflammation of the brain (encephalitis)
In some patients, mumps can also cause deafness, heart problems, and miscarriage, but these complications are very rare.
Mumps Prevention
Mumps can be prevented by giving the MMR immunization.measles, mumps, rubella) in children. The MMR vaccine protects the body from measles, mumps, and rubella.
This vaccine needs to be given to children twice, namely when the child is 15-18 months old and when the child is 5 years old. However, if the first immunization has not been carried out at the age of 15-18 months, the first vaccine can still be given until the child is 3 years old.
If it has not been done in childhood, the MMR vaccine can still be given in adulthood. The MMR vaccine for adults is recommended for people who are at high risk of exposure to the virus that causes mumps.
People who suffer from compromised immune systems or are allergic to ingredients contained in the vaccine, such as gelatin or neomycin, are not recommended to undergo MMR immunization.
Prevention of mumps can also be done by maintaining personal hygiene, regularly washing hands, not sharing toiletries or eating patients with patients, and applying cough etiquette, one of which is covering the mouth with a tissue when sneezing or coughing.
Patients with mumps are also advised to stay at home for at least 5 days after the first symptoms appear. This is to prevent the transmission of mumps to other people.