What are the early symptoms of mumps?

Written by Tong Peng
Pediatrics
Updated on September 05, 2024
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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.

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Written by Wang Ji Zhong
Internal Medicine
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Is mumps contagious?

The mumps commonly referred to is epidemic mumps, which is highly contagious, caused by an infection of the mumps virus leading to inflammation and swelling of the salivary glands, constituting an acute respiratory infectious disease. It is primarily transmitted through saliva, with individuals suffering from mumps serving as the contagion source. Viruses can be secreted via the saliva of infected individuals about two weeks before and after the onset of infection, hence its contagious nature. After developing symptoms, patients should be promptly isolated and treated to prevent transmission to others or to individuals with low immunity. Particularly during the spring and winter seasons, efforts should be made to avoid viral infections and seek timely treatment upon symptom onset.

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Written by Wang Ji Zhong
Internal Medicine
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How is mumps caused?

There are several causes of mumps, which can be infectious, immune, obstructive, and idiopathic. The commonly referred mumps primarily refers to epidemic mumps, a prevalent infectious disease caused by the mumps virus infection in humans. Additionally, there is suppurative mumps, an acute bacterial condition mainly caused by Staphylococcus aureus, followed by Streptococcus. Some immune types of mumps, like Sjögren's syndrome, can cause chronic, autoimmune, and immune mumps. Therefore, identifying the cause of mumps and providing timely symptomatic treatment is essential.

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Written by Hu Qi Feng
Pediatrics
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Treatment methods for children's mumps

Mumps currently has no specific antiviral treatment; treatment is primarily symptomatic. It is important to maintain oral cleanliness, provide a light diet, avoid acidic foods, and drink plenty of water. For symptoms such as high fever and headache, or concurrent inflammation of the testicles, antipyretic analgesics should be administered. Traditional Chinese medicine treatments often involve clearing heat and detoxifying, softening hardness and relieving pain. Common treatments include modified Puji Xiaodu Yin taken orally or Qing Dai mixed with vinegar applied topically. Under medical guidance, ribavirin can be used in the early stages of the disease, administered intravenously at a dose of 10 to 15 milligrams per kilogram of body weight per day, with a treatment course of 5 to 7 days. Corticosteroids may be used for severe cases for a short course of three to five days.

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Written by Wang Ji Zhong
Internal Medicine
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What are the symptoms of mumps?

In clinical settings, there are two types of mumps: suppurative mumps and epidemic mumps. Suppurative mumps is caused by Staphylococcus aureus infection; while epidemic mumps is caused by a mumps virus infection. Particularly severe cases of mumps can have serious complications including fever, orchitis, pneumonia, etc. Thus, it is crucial to detect and treat it early. Common symptoms of suppurative mumps include swelling and pain in the salivary glands, with redness, swelling, heat, and pain appearing prominently. When pressure is applied to the swollen gland, pus can be seen flowing from the salivary duct. Epidemic mumps usually has an acute onset and is more common in the winter and autumn. It also features enlargement of the salivary glands, accompanied by headache, fever, and loss of appetite. There will be redness and swelling around the mouth, eventually developing into central swelling at the earlobe, affecting eating, and with localized feverish skin.

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Written by Wang Ji Zhong
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How long is the isolation period for mumps?

The mumps we commonly refer to is an acute contagious disease caused by the mumps virus. It is transmitted through close contact with an infected individual or someone carrying the virus. Therefore, it is crucial to isolate individuals diagnosed with mumps in certain situations. Patients with mumps can shed the virus in their saliva from 7 days before until 9 days after the swelling of the salivary glands, making roughly a two-week period during which the infectiousness is at its peak. Therefore, patients with mumps need to be isolated for about two weeks to prevent the transmission of the virus to others.