How to know if my child has mumps
Although mumps is not considered serious, it is a highly contagious disease.
For some years there have been outbreaks of mumps in Spain , despite the fact that the vaccine against this disease is included in the vaccination schedule. The main reason why it is possible that a disease that was practically eradicated in this country, to rebound strongly, is the anti- vaccine movement .
Although mumps is not considered serious, it is a highly contagious disease that can have significant consequences for the sufferer. One of them is hearing loss due to the place where the source of infection is located.
Schools are great sources of infection, something normal since children are usually not very cautious when it comes to taking precautions against diseases . Something logical and completely normal, since you cannot and should not create paranoias in your children that affect them on a social level.
However, it is important to know the symptoms of this type of disease . In this way, you will be able to go to the pediatrician when doubts arise and your child will be able to receive the appropriate treatment whenever he or she needs it. Here are the symptoms of mumps, so you can get an idea of how this infection manifests itself.
Index
WHAT IS MUMPS
Mumps, or in its medical term, parotitis , occurs as a result of an infection by a virus called paramyxovirus . This infection produces an inflammation in the salivary glands that are located near the ears. Specifically the parotid glands, which are responsible for producing saliva. The infection that produces mumps can occur in one of the salivary glands or in both.
The mumps virus is highly contagious, so it is easy for it to spread between groups of children. The way of spreading is through the air , through sneezing, coughing and even speaking, the saliva spreads easily, infecting any other child or person who is nearby. Mumps is also spread by contact, imagine everything a child can touch, any table or surface that contains particles of infected saliva can cause immediate contagion.
MUMPS SYMPTOMS
In some cases, the symptoms of mumps are so mild that they are not even noticeable, it is even possible that a person or a child with mumps does not show any symptoms . However, there are very characteristic features of mumps, they are the following:
- Inflammation in the cheeks : The inflammation occurs in the infected area, that is, in the salivary glands. Being a low-fat area, it is very easy to notice inflammation.
- Pain in the area where the inflammation occurs
- Discomfort when chewing and pain when swallowing
- Loss of appetite
- Fatigue and habitual tiredness
- General malaise
- Headache
- Muscle pains
If you notice any of these symptoms in your child, especially inflammation of the salivary glands , see your pediatrician so that he can assess the situation . It does not have to be mumps, since as we say there are few cases that have occurred in Spain for a long time.
It is also important to take into account other symptoms, since the inflammation that is noticed in the cheeks does not always occur. In fact, one in 3 children who is infected with mumps does not show inflammation . Even one in 5 children with mumps does not have any associated symptoms . Therefore, go to the doctor so that he can make a proper diagnosis.
CAN COMPLICATIONS OCCUR?
In children, it is rare for mumps to cause severe complications . It is in the case of adults when you have to pay special attention. However, children can also suffer from some complications from mumps.
Sometimes they can cause inflammation in other parts of the body :
- In the testicles : This is what is called orchitis , a disease that causes inflammation of the testicles . It usually affects men after puberty, although it can also occur in childhood. Orchitis can cause pain in the testicles, fever, vomiting or nausea among others.
- In the brain : These types of diseases caused by infection can affect the brain. This condition, called encephalitis, can cause serious neurological problems and it is essential to treat it quickly. This is a rare complication, although not impossible.
- Meningitis : It is also possible for the mumps virus to spread into the bloodstream, which could seriously affect the central nervous system .
- Hearing loss : One of the most frequent complications is hearing loss , it can occur mildly and in very severe cases even total loss.
PREVENTION AND TREATMENT
There is currently no treatment for mumps, apart from symptomatic treatment based on analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs. The most effective method to fight mumps is prevention , that is, the vaccine.
This vaccine is highly effective, and people who receive it correctly have a very low chance of getting the mumps virus. Therefore, it is very important that you make sure that you provide your children with all the vaccines corresponding to the vaccination schedule. Doing so not only protects your child from these types of diseases, you also protect the rest of the population by preventing their spread.
Dr. Tabriella Perivolaris, Sara's mother and fan of fashion, beauty, motherhood, among others, about the female universe. Since 2018 she has been working as a copywriter, always bringing to her articles a little of her experience and experience as a mother and woman.