MEDICAL INFORMATION 1- MUMPS
It is currently the most common widespread disease in Egypt due to the great number of cases and the news about it in the media. The following is a brief article to give you some information on the symptoms, causes, and ways of treatment and prevention of the disease.
What is mumps? Mumps is an extremely contagious viral infection that usually affects both children and adults. The condition has a number of symptoms, the most common one being swelling of one or both of the salivary glands on the sides of the face. These glands are called the parotid glands and when they swell the patient develops a "hamster like" face. Once someone has had mumps, they usually become immune to future infections. What are the Signs and Symptoms of Mumps? A symptom is something the patient feels or reports, while a sign is something that other people, including the doctor detects. A headache may be an example of a symptom, while a rash may be an example of a sign. The symptoms of mumps normally appear 2-3 weeks after the patient has been infected, however almost 20% of people with the virus do not suffer any signs or symptoms at all. The main symptom of mumps is painful and swollen parotid (salivary) glands, which cause the persons cheeks to puff out. Other symptoms can include: * Pain in the sides of the face where it is swollen * Pain experienced when swallowing * Trouble swallowing * Feeling tired and weak * Fever/high temperature * Headache * Nausea * Dryness in mouth * Pain in joints * Reduced appetite
What Causes Mumps? A person suffers mumps when infected with the mumps virus. It can be transmitted via respiratory secretions (e.g. saliva) from a person already affected with the condition. When contracting mumps, the virus travels from the respiratory tract to the salivary glands and reproduces, causing the glands to swell. Examples of how it can be spread are: * sneezing or coughing * using the same cutlery/plates with someone infected * sharing food and drink with someone infected * kissing * someone infected touching their nose or mouth and then passing it onto a surface someone else may touch * Someone infected with the mumps virus is contagious for approximately 15 days (six days before the symptoms start to show, up to nine days after they start). The mumps virus is a widespread cause of infection, especially in children. How is Mumps Treated? As mumps is viral, antibiotics cannot be used to treat it, and at present there are no anti-viral medications able to treat mumps. Treatment can only help relieve the symptoms until the infection has run its course and the body has developed an immunity, much like a cold. In most cases people recover from mumps within two weeks. Steps that can be taken to help relieve the symptoms of mumps include: * Consuming plenty of fluids, ideally water - avoid fruit juices as they stimulate the production of saliva, which is painful for someone with mumps. * Putting something cold on the swollen area to alleviate the pain. * Eating mushy or liquid food as chewing will also be painful * Getting sufficient rest and sleep * Gargling warm salt water * Taking painkillers.
How can Mumps be prevented? * The mumps vaccine is the general method for preventing mumps; it can come on its own or as part of the MMR vaccine. The MMR vaccine also defends the body from rubella and measles. The MMR vaccine is given to an infant when they are just over one year old and again as a booster just before they start school. Ways of preventing mumps from spreading There are a number of precautions that can be taken to help prevent the spread of infection, these are as follows: * Washing hands frequently with water and soap. * Not going into school until 5 days after the symptoms begin to appear (no longer contagious as incubation period has finished) * Covering the nose and mouth with a tissue when sneezing or coughing.
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