How is mumps treated?

Written by Huang Kun Mei

Pediatrics

Updated on September 13, 2024

00:00

00:00

Mumps is generally caused by a viral infection and requires antiviral treatment for the child. Mumps can easily lead to fever or orchitis in boys, among other things, so it is crucial to take it seriously.

It is recommended to isolate the child and avoid crowded places to prevent the spread of the infection. Ensure that the child consumes a nutrient-rich diet, including fresh vegetables and fruits such as kiwi and broccoli. Viral mumps generally affects both sides and is quite contagious, so it is essential to avoid going out and to isolate to prevent infection.

Other Voices

home-news-image

Written by Yuan Lin Yan

Infectious Disease

1min 22sec

home-news-image

What is mumps?

Mumps is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by the mumps virus that invades the parotid glands. It primarily occurs in children and adolescents and is transmitted through respiratory droplets, often causing epidemics in classrooms. Clinically it presents with fever, swelling and pain in the parotid gland area, and body temperatures can reach up to 40°C. There can also be complications such as meningitis, meningoencephalitis, orchitis, oophoritis, and pancreatitis. To manage mumps, it is advisable to avoid acidic foods, maintain oral hygiene, and rinse the mouth with saline after meals. Pain relief medication can be used for headaches and pain in the swollen parotid glands. For testicular swelling and pain, local cold compresses or support with cotton padding and a jockstrap can be helpful. Proper supplementation with water, electrolytes, and energy is important. Antiviral medications can be used early on, and diuretics can be added for severe headaches and vomiting. In severe cases or those with complications like meningoencephalitis or myocarditis, steroids may be administered.

home-news-image

Written by Tong Peng

Pediatrics

45sec

home-news-image

What are the early symptoms of mumps?

Mumps in children is a contagious disease, and its complications can cause significant damage to the body. Its early symptoms often manifest as swelling below the earlobe, sometimes starting on one side and then appearing on the opposite side a few days later, or swelling can occur simultaneously on both sides, including the entire area around the earlobe, often with noticeable redness and tenderness. Additionally, affected children may also experience fever, headache, sore throat, loss of appetite, and nausea. Diagnosis can be confirmed through lymph nodes in the neck and an ultrasound of the parotid gland, and it can also be diagnosed by complete blood count and antibody tests to provide symptomatic treatment.

home-news-image

Written by Yuan Lin Yan

Infectious Disease

56sec

home-news-image

Is mumps contagious?

Mumps is contagious and mainly occurs in children and adolescents. Therefore, parents should take timely protective measures for children with mumps to prevent the infection from spreading to other children. Mumps is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by the mumps virus invading the salivary glands. It is primarily transmitted through respiratory droplets, and its main clinical symptoms include fever and painful swelling in the parotid gland area, with body temperatures potentially reaching up to 40 degrees Celsius. Complications such as meningitis, meningoencephalitis, orchitis, oophoritis, and pancreatitis may also occur. For adults or children who have been infected with mumps before, the disease is not contagious again, as there are antibodies against the mumps virus in the body to resist the infection.

home-news-image

Written by Yuan Jun Li

Neurology

1min 11sec

home-news-image

Can mumps cause facial paralysis?

Mumps generally does not cause facial paralysis. This disease is an inflammation caused by a viral infection of the salivary glands. Patients mainly exhibit symptoms of redness, swelling, heat, and pain in the area of the salivary glands, primarily located behind the ears. It occurs mostly in children, but adults can also contract the disease. Treatment mainly involves antiviral medications and drugs that clear heat and detoxify, as well as possible physical therapy. Facial paralysis, also known as facial neuritis, is caused by a viral invasion that leads to the demyelination of the facial nerve. This might also be related to exposure to cold winds. The main symptoms include paralysis of the facial expression muscles affecting the eyelids and other facial features, which may lead to widened eye slits, disappearance of forehead lines, flattening of the nasolabial fold, and deviation of the mouth corner. There may also be issues such as air leakage while whistling.

home-news-image

Written by Wang Peng

Dentistry

43sec

home-news-image

Can hot compresses be used to reduce swelling in mumps?

Patients with mumps can use hot compresses as an adjunct treatment, but hot compresses usually do not reduce swelling. Mumps is generally caused by bacterial or viral infections, so the local swelling is not directly related to the patient's stagnation of blood. Although hot compresses can alleviate some pain, they cannot invigorate the blood and dissipate blood stasis; therefore, they do not effectively reduce swelling. It is recommended that patients with viral mumps undergo antiviral treatment, while those with bacterial mumps should receive anti-inflammatory treatment. Additionally, during treatment, it is important to ensure proper isolation to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.