Immunity after mumps. Mumps disease: causes, diagnosis and treatment
Children aged 5-15 years most often suffer from mumps, but adults can also get sick.
As a rule, the disease is not very severe. However, mumps has a number of dangerous complications. To insure against the unfavorable course of the disease, it is necessary to prevent the very possibility of developing mumps. For this purpose, there is a treatment for mumps, which is included in the list mandatory vaccinations in all countries of the world.
Causes of the disease
Infection occurs through airborne droplets (when coughing, sneezing, talking) from a sick person. A person with mumps is contagious 1-2 days before the first signs of the disease appear and for 9 days after its onset (maximum virus shedding is from the third to the fifth day). After entering the body, the virus multiplies in the glandular tissue and can affect almost all glands of the body - reproductive, salivary, pancreas, thyroid. Changes in the functioning of most glands rarely reach the level at which specific complaints and symptoms begin to arise, but the salivary glands are affected first and most severely.
Symptoms of mumps (mumps)
The disease usually begins acutely. The temperature can rise to 40 degrees, there is pain in the ear area or in front of it, especially when chewing and swallowing, increased salivation. Especially sharp pain occurs when food enters the body, causing profuse salivation(for example, sour). Inflammation of the parotid salivary gland causes enlargement of the cheek - in front auricle A rapidly spreading swelling appears, which increases to its maximum by the 5-6th day. The earlobe protrudes upward and forward, which gives the patient a characteristic appearance. Feeling this place is painful. Elevated body temperature persists for 5-7 days.
Complications
Of the complications of mumps, the most common are inflammation of the pancreas () and gonads. There may be inflammation of the thyroid and other internal glands of the body, as well as damage to the nervous system in the form of meningitis or encephalitis.
Pancreatitis begins with sharp abdominal pain (often girdling), loss of appetite, and bowel movements. If you notice the appearance of such symptoms, you should immediately consult a doctor.
The gonads can be affected in both boys and girls. If in boys the inflammation of the testicles is quite noticeable, due to their anatomical location and quite bright clinical picture(new rise in temperature, soreness of the testicle, change in skin color over it), then in girls the diagnosis of ovarian damage is difficult. The consequence of such inflammation may subsequently be testicular atrophy in men, ovarian atrophy, infertility, and menstrual dysfunction in women.
What can you do
There is no specific therapy for mumps. The disease is most dangerous in boys during puberty, due to possible damage to the testicles. Treatment is aimed at preventing the development of complications. Do not self-medicate. Only a doctor can correctly diagnose and check whether other glands are affected.
What can a doctor do?
In typical cases, making a diagnosis does not cause difficulties and the doctor immediately prescribes treatment. In doubtful cases, the doctor may prescribe additional methods diagnostics Patients are advised to follow bed rest within 7-10 days. It is known that in boys who do not comply with bed rest during the 1st week, (inflammation of the testicles) develops approximately 3 times more often. It is necessary to monitor the cleanliness of the oral cavity. To do this, prescribe daily rinsing with a 2% soda solution or other disinfectants.
A dry, warm bandage is applied to the affected salivary gland. Patients are prescribed liquid or crushed food. To prevent inflammation of the pancreas, in addition, it is necessary to follow a certain diet: avoid overeating, reduce the amount of white bread, pasta, fats, cabbage. The diet should be dairy-vegetable. For cereals, it is better to eat rice; brown bread and potatoes are allowed.
Prevention of mumps (mumps)
The danger of complications from mumps is beyond doubt. That is why methods of preventing this disease in the form of establishing quarantine in children's groups and preventive vaccinations are so widespread. The patient is isolated until the 9th day of illness; children who have been in contact with the patient are not allowed to visit child care institutions (nurseries, kindergartens, schools) for 21 days. However, the problem is that 30-40% of those infected with the virus do not develop any signs of the disease (asymptomatic forms). Therefore, it is not always possible to avoid mumps by hiding from sick people. Accordingly, the only acceptable way of prevention is vaccinations. According to the calendar of preventive vaccinations in Russia, vaccination against mumps is carried out at 12 months and at 6 years.
Also called mumps, an acute viral disease characterized by inflammation salivary glands. Pathology in a person can develop only once, since persistent immunity is developed to repeated infection. Most often children get mumps. If mumps occurs in adults, it is more difficult to tolerate and threatens to develop complications.
Mumps: causes
The infection is caused by a paramyxovirus; infection often occurs through airborne droplets or through infected objects. The patient becomes contagious two days before the onset of symptoms of the disease and poses a danger to others for another five days after the onset of signs of pathology. (the time from the virus entering the body to the onset of symptoms) averages from 12 to 24 days.
Mumps in adults: symptoms
If the case is typical, mumps begins acutely. The temperature rises sharply (up to 40 degrees), weakness, pain in the ears and head appear, aggravated by chewing and swallowing, excessive salivation is observed, pain in the area increases when eating sour foods. Inflammation can cause the cheek to become enlarged, and pain occurs when you touch the cheek. The skin over the places where the inflamed glands are located becomes tense and shiny. Typically, the enlargement of the salivary glands reaches its maximum on the third day after the onset of the disease. The swelling may persist for up to ten days. Sometimes mumps in adults has no signs of being affected. In this case, identifying the disease is quite difficult.
Mumps in adults: complications
After the virus enters the blood, it begins to penetrate various glandular organs. Thus, the pancreas can be damaged, which entails the risk of the testicles, which is fraught with orchitis, the ovaries, which can lead to oophoritis and oophoritis. If a man develops mumps orchitis, it can lead to priapism and even infertility. The virus can also enter the brain, causing viral meningoencephalitis. As possible complications Hearing loss and deafness can also be noted.
Mumps: treatment
In adults, as already mentioned, the disease is more severe than in children. Usually the doctor prescribes at least ten days of bed rest. Along with this, antimicrobial and antiviral agents should be taken, aimed at preventing possible complications. The patient is advised to drink warm liquids in large quantities, for example, lingonberry or cranberry juice, tea. If the temperature rises above 38 degrees, antipyretic drugs should be taken. During treatment, you need to avoid overeating, reduce the consumption of pasta, cabbage, white bread, and fats. You should rinse your mouth every time after eating.
Parotitis (or piggy ) is an acute viral disease that develops as a result of exposure to the human body paramyxovirus . When the disease occurs, severe symptoms of general intoxication of the body appear, one or more salivary glands enlarge. Often with mumps, other organs are affected, and damage to the central nervous system is also possible. This disease was first described by Hippocrates.
Causes of mumps
Symptoms of mumps appear in humans due to exposure to a virus from the paramyxovirus group. You can only get infected from a person who is sick manifesto or inapparent form of mumps. A person becomes infectious to others 1-2 days before the first clinical symptoms of mumps disease appear, as well as in the first five days of the disease. After the symptoms of the disease disappear, the person becomes non-infectious. Transmission of the virus in adults and children occurs through airborne droplets. However, to this day, experts do not exclude the possibility of transmission of the virus through contaminated objects. People are highly susceptible to infection. The virus enters the body through the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract.
Most often, the disease affects children, and males suffer from mumps about one and a half times more often. Mumps most often develops in children between 3 and 7 years of age. In general, about 90% of cases of the disease are diagnosed in children and adolescents who are under 15 years of age. Most often, the virus affects people in the spring – in March and April. The lowest number of cases of the disease is observed in August and September. The disease can be either sporadic or manifest as epidemic outbreaks. The overall incidence rate was reduced after the practice of mass immunization of the population with a live vaccine became common. After a person has had mumps, they develop a lifelong illness.
Symptoms
When infected with mumps, the duration ranges from 11 to 23 days, but most often it lasts 15-19 days. Some patients note that approximately 1-2 days before the onset of the first symptoms they experienced prodromal phenomena: slight chills, headache, muscle pain, dry mouth, and discomfort in the salivary glands.
As a rule, mumps in children and adults begins acutely. Initially, a person is worried about chills, his temperature rises significantly. As the disease develops, fever may persist for about 1 week. In this case, the patient suffers from headache, weakness,... To reduce such manifestations, it is practiced symptomatic treatment. But sometimes the symptoms of mumps in children and adult patients appear at normal body temperature. The main symptoms of mumps are inflammation of the salivary glands. As a rule, the parotid glands are affected, however, sometimes the submandibular and sublingual salivary glands become inflamed. They are painful on palpation, as well as swelling.
In the presence of a pronounced enlargement of the parotid salivary gland, the contours of the face change: it becomes pear-shaped. On the affected side, the earlobe rises, the skin on the swelling becomes stretched and shiny, but its color does not change. Most often noted bilateral defeat, but it also happens unilateral defeats.
The patient experiences a feeling of discomfort. There is tension and pain in the area near the ear, which gets worse at night. If the tumor compresses the Eustachian tube, then noise and pain may appear in the ears. The so-called Filatov's symptom – severe pain when pressing behind the earlobe. This symptom is considered one of the earliest and important signs pigs.
Sometimes pain prevents the patient from chewing food. Hearing loss and dry mouth may occur. The pain subsides by the end of the first week of the disease. Also at this time, the swelling of the salivary glands gradually disappears.
Mumps in adult patients manifests itself with more pronounced symptoms. Sometimes patients are bothered by catarrhal and dyspeptic symptoms, and the acute period of the disease is more severe than in children. The swelling may spread to the neck and lasts longer - about two weeks. Such signs are easy to identify both visually and from photographs.
Diagnostics
Diagnosis of mumps when typical symptoms appear is not difficult for a specialist. In other infectious diseases, the damage to the parotid salivary glands is secondary, and it is also purulent. But upon careful examination of the patient, the doctor can easily differentiate other diseases.
To determine the presence of a virus in the body, they are used laboratory methods. The most informative is the isolation of the mumps virus from the blood. It is also found in other liquids - pharyngeal swabs, secretions of the parotid salivary gland, and urine.
Immunofluorescent methods are used to detect viruses on cell culture after 2-3 days. At the same time, standard methods determine the presence of the virus only after 6 days.
Treatment
Treatment for mumps can be done at home. Only those patients who have a severe course of the disease are subject to hospitalization. If a child or adult develops mumps, they are isolated at home for 10 days. Prevention of the disease involves quarantine for 21 days in those children's institutions where a case of the disease was recorded. The mumps virus cannot be killed by a certain drug. Both mumps and mumps are treated by relieving the main symptoms of the disease. For mumps in children and adults, painkillers and antipyretics are used. UHF therapy and ultraviolet irradiation help relieve symptoms of mumps. Dry heat is indicated on the area of the salivary glands. After eating, the patient must rinse his mouth every time. Can be used warm water or soda solution. You can also periodically rinse your mouth with a decoction of chamomile and sage.
Due to the lack special treatment It should be understood that vaccination is the main method to avoid the disease. Therefore, children should be vaccinated in accordance with the general vaccination schedule.
It should be remembered that the causes of complications after mumps are, first of all, non-compliance with the rules of bed rest. It should be followed regardless of the severity of the symptoms of the disease.
As a rule, when chewing, patients with mumps feel pain and discomfort. Therefore, on days of illness you need to eat ground or semi-liquid food. The diet should include mostly light foods plant origin, as well as dairy products. You should not eat sour fruits, as they irritate the salivary glands.
If the patient develops complications, then hospitalization is required. Most dangerous complications are meningitis And testicular inflammation . Complicated mumps in boys is especially dangerous, as the consequences can be very serious.
If it develops as a complication orchitis , then at the first signs, other corticosteroids are prescribed for 5-7 days. Treatment with corticosteroids is also practiced for meningitis. In acute pancreatitis, it is important to follow a strict diet. Prescribed as well as drugs that inhibit enzymes.
The doctors
Medicines
Prevention
To prevent mumps in children and adults, the only effective method of prevention is vaccination. Mumps vaccination is given to children aged 12 to 15 months (according to the vaccination calendar). At 6 years of age, revaccination is carried out. It is inserted either into the outer surface of the shoulder or subcutaneously under the shoulder blade. If a child who has not previously had mumps has had contact with someone who has symptoms of mumps, they can be immediately vaccinated with the mumps vaccine. Mumps, as well as measles and rubella are prevented by mandatory vaccination due to high probability manifestations of complications. There are no direct contraindications to vaccination with the mumps vaccine.
A child who has received a mumps vaccine according to the vaccination schedule may become ill with this disease. However, mumps after vaccination occurs only in a mild form. In addition, the virus from such a person is not released into the environment, therefore, such a patient is not infectious to others.
To prevent infection with the virus during pregnancy, a woman must be tested for mumps at the planning stage. If antibodies are present in the body, this indicates that a woman who plans to become a mother has immunity to mumps. In the absence of such antibodies, it is necessary to vaccinate against mumps before pregnancy.
Complications
Another complication of mumps is orchitis . It is more often observed in adult patients. Symptoms of orchitis appear on the 5th-7th day of mumps: repeated fever, severe pain in the testicles and scrotum, and enlarged testicles are noted. Immediate treatment of this condition is required, otherwise it may develop testicular atrophy . The childhood disease mumps can cause not only mumps orchitis in adults, but also its further complication - priapism (prolonged erection of the penis, not associated with arousal).
But the situation is especially dangerous when mumps develops in boys during adolescence. Signs of mumps disease are sometimes manifested by the development of inflammation of the testicle or ovary. As a result, approximately every tenth boy who had mumps in childhood develops
Epidemic parotitis (syn. mumps or behind the ears) is an acute viral infection, which is considered a “children’s infection”. According to statistics, children are more likely to get mumps, and they tolerate it much easier. Adults can also get mumps if they were not vaccinated as children or if their vaccination period has expired.
The disease got its name “mumps” or “mumps” because with mumps, severe swelling occurs in the neck and behind the ears. The patient's appearance resembles a piglet. The disease has been known since ancient times; Hippocrates gave its first descriptions, but then no one knew what caused the disease.
Progress in the diagnosis and treatment of mumps began during epidemics of the 17th and 19th centuries among regular army soldiers. Due to the high population density of the barracks, due to poor hygiene, the soldiers fell ill with mumps one after another. Sometimes at that time this disease began to be called “trench or soldier’s disease.” It was only in the last century that the nature of the infection was discovered by isolating the virus and infecting laboratory animals (monkeys) with it. By 1945, the first vaccine against mumps was developed, which gave rise to the era of mass vaccination against it.
Although attempts have been made to infect animals with the virus in laboratory conditions, natural environment Mumps is a typical human disease. Therefore, you cannot become infected with it through contact with wild or domestic animals. Only people can transmit it to each other. Before vaccination, mumps was serious danger in terms of the spread of epidemics. Meet today isolated cases mumps among those children whose parents do not vaccinate them, and adults whose vaccine immunity has faded often also get sick, and repeated vaccinations they didn't.
How does infection occur?
The mumps virus belongs to the RNA viruses of a special group rubulavirus; it is not very resistant to external environment. You can become infected with it only through prolonged and close contact with sick people. At the same time, people who are sources of infection may not yet suspect that they have mumps.
- Airborne- the virus is released with saliva and mucus of the nasopharynx, and if the patient spoke to you, coughed, blew his nose or sneezed near you, kissed you, was in the same room with you - the risk of infection is very high
- By contact- It will also be dangerous for children to use shared toys, licking fingers, objects touched by the hands of an infected baby, which he previously put into his mouth.
The disease is characterized by seasonality - the peak incidence occurs in the spring, and in August-September the disease is practically not registered. The disease is widespread and widespread, but due to the fact that children are now being actively vaccinated, epidemics currently occur infrequently.
According to numerous studies, it has been established that people become infectious:
- a week before inflammation of the salivary glands
- 7-17 days may pass from the moment of infection
- They remain infectious for approximately 8-9 days after the first manifestations of the disease.
Patients especially produce a lot of viruses and they are most contagious when the salivary glands are inflamed. During this time, they must be strictly isolated from others to prevent the spread of infection.
The incubation period (from the moment of infection with the virus until the manifestation of the disease) is:
- in children on average from 12 to 22 days.
- in adults it ranges from 11 to 23-25 days, usually 14-18 days.
Who can get mumps?
Anyone who does not have immunity to it (has not been sick before or has not been vaccinated) can get mumps; due to weakened immunity, children are more likely to get sick. Among adults, those who do not have antibodies to mumps in their blood suffer - this is no more than 10-20% of the population (the rest have antibodies to the infection in their blood). It has been noted that boys and men suffer from partitis twice as often and more severely.
Can vaccinated people get mumps? Correctly administered MMR vaccination protects almost everyone (98%) from mumps infection; only a small number of people vaccinated with one or even two doses of the vaccine can develop mumps symptoms. But the course of mumps in such people is mostly mild and uncomplicated.
What happens inside the body
The virus enters the body through the mucous membranes of the nose and pharynx. It settles on the surface of cells, destroys them and penetrates into blood vessels, then spreads throughout the body, penetrating into their most favorite places - this glandular tissues And nerve tissue(primarily the salivary glands). Inside them, the virus multiplies most actively.
At the same time, the prostate and testicles in boys and men, the ovaries in girls and women, can be affected. thyroid, pancreas. Along with the glands, at the same time, or somewhat later, the nervous system, both peripheral nerves and ganglia, and the brain and spinal cord (when creating special conditions or aggressive course of mumps).
As the virus multiplies in the body, the immune system begins to produce antibodies to the viruses, which bind and clear the virus, promoting recovery. These antibodies remain inside the body for the rest of your life, creating lifelong immunity. Due to these antibodies, re-infection with mumps does not occur.
However, along with this, a general allergization of the body can also be observed, which can be observed for a long time - up to several years. Due to it, allergic reactions may occur in the future, which past illness dermatitis, asthma, were not observed in a child or adult.
Can mumps go unnoticed?
Most often, this phenomenon occurs in adolescents or adults. About 20-30% of people infected with mumps get this disease without any special typical signs, in the form of ARVI, or it is completely asymptomatic. With this type of infection, complications are not dangerous, but the person himself is the source of the spread of viruses among children and adults.
Symptoms of mumps in children
During the incubation period, the child looks normal and feels well, there are no external signs that he is already sick. When viruses accumulate in the body, the first signs of mumps appear. For children it is:
- temperature rise within 38.0-38.5°C,
- weak signs of ARVI. There may be a slight runny nose, redness of the throat,...
After one or two days, swelling appears in the area of one parotid salivary gland. At the same time, the gland itself becomes painful. The second gland may also become inflamed, their functioning is impaired, which leads to dry mouth, bad breath and discomfort.
Saliva not only performs moisturizing and disinfecting functions in the oral cavity, it also takes part in the digestion process, wetting the bolus of food and partially breaking down some components in it. Due to a decrease in saliva production, digestive functions may be disrupted with the development of nausea, abdominal pain and stool disorders, and stomatitis or gingivitis of an infectious nature may occur in the oral cavity.
In addition to the parotid glands, the submandibular and sublingual salivary glands may be involved in the process. When they become inflamed and swollen, the child’s face becomes moon-shaped and puffy, especially in the area of the jaw and ears. Due to its resemblance to a “pig snout,” the disease received this name.
If other glandular organs are involved in the process, complicated mumps is formed:
- In school-age boys, when the testicle is affected, unilateral swelling of the scrotum usually occurs, the skin turns red, is hot to the touch, and painful. With prostatitis, pain occurs in the perineal area, with rectal examination an edematous formation with pain is detected.
- In girls, ovarian damage may result in pain in the lower abdomen, nausea, and malaise.
When the tissue of the pancreas is damaged, digestive problems arise:
- feeling of heaviness in the stomach,
- pain in the left hypochondrium,
- nausea with vomiting,
- bloating,
- diarrhea (diarrhea).
Mumps in children can occur not only as a classic variant, but also with erased forms, or even asymptomatic. In the erased form, the temperature rises slightly, not higher than 37.5°C, there is no characteristic damage to the salivary glands, or it is not very pronounced and goes away in two to three days.
The asymptomatic form does not give any signs of infection at all and is dangerous only because such a child can visit a children's group and infect other children there.
Symptoms of mumps in adults
In principle, the course and main symptoms of mumps are similar to those in children, but often mumps in adults tends to be more severe with complications (especially in young men and girls).
Before the onset of typical manifestations of mumps, some adults note a state of prodrome of the disease:
- chills occur
- muscle or joint pain
- headache
- runny nose and cough
- malaise, like a cold
- dry mouth, discomfort in the projection of the salivary glands
- discomfort in the neck area.
By the height of the disease, adults note a gradual increase in temperature from 37.2-37.5 to 38.0 ° C and above. The duration of the febrile period in general is approximately a week. Often, in adults, mumps can occur without fever, which indicates weak resistance of the immune system to the introduction of viruses. In parallel with fever, weakness with malaise and headache, and insomnia may appear.
The main manifestation of mumps in adults is an inflammatory process in the parotid salivary glands; the sublingual and submandibular glands are often affected. They swell, palpation is painful, and saliva practically does not separate. Due to swelling and inflammation of the glands, the patient's face takes on a swollen appearance, resembling a pig's muzzle, with pronounced swelling along the lower jaw and behind the ears. The skin in the area of swelling of the glands is shiny, very stretched and does not fold, but its color does not change. In adults, the lesion is typically initially bilateral.
Also, pain and discomfort in the salivary glands are more pronounced:
- pain occurs when chewing and drinking
- typical pain when talking
- at night it is difficult to choose a sleeping position due to soreness of the glands
- compression of the auditory tube by the inflamed gland causes tinnitus and pain inside the ear
- If you press on the tissue behind the earlobe, severe pain appears. This is one of the early typical symptoms of mumps.
- in severe cases, it becomes difficult to chew food in general, and spasms of the masticatory muscles (trismus) may occur.
- Very little saliva is released, which causes a state of severe dryness (xerostomia).
The acute period of inflammation in adults lasts no more than 3-4 days; sometimes pain at the beginning of the process can radiate to the ear or neck, gradually fading by the end of the week. At the same time, the swelling of the glands goes away.
In parallel with the symptoms from the salivary glands, catarrhal phenomena also develop - runny nose, cough, sore throat, as well as digestive disorders with diarrhea, nausea and abdominal pain. They are most pronounced during the period of maximum swelling of the salivary glands and gradually fade away as local inflammatory phenomena converge.
In adults with mumps, there may additionally be:
- a rash on the body that looks like thick and bright red spots. Localized in the face, arms, legs and torso.
- about 30% of boys and men suffer from orchitis - inflammation of the testicle. Moreover, the process can begin either simultaneously with the damage to the salivary glands, or a couple of weeks after the onset of mumps. The manifestations of orchitis cannot be confused with anything, with it the temperature rises sharply to almost 39-40°C, severe and sharp pain occurs in the scrotum, it becomes very red and swollen - usually on one side, but both testicles can be affected at once.
Is mumps dangerous?
For the most part, mumps occurs in children and most adults without any complications and is not dangerous. But in 5 people out of 1000 cases, especially those with reduced immunity, mumps takes an aggressive course. However, it can cause serious complications:
- spread to the tissue of the spinal cord or brain with the formation of meningitis and encephalitis. They are relatively well treated, only rare cases lead to fatal outcome or cause paralysis, hearing loss.
- about 5% of all patients develop pancreatitis (the pancreas is affected). Most often, this type of pancreatitis is mild and goes away completely. Previously it was believed that type 1 diabetes could develop after mumps, but today this opinion has been refuted!
- about 30% of men or boys who suffer from mumps with orchitis (inflammation of the testicle) become infertile ().
- complications may also arise from internal organs in the form of pneumonia, myocarditis, damage to the joints, thyroid gland, vision.
Signs of aggressive mumps
If you or your child gets mumps, you should contact your doctor immediately if you have aggressive symptoms or complications such as:
- severe headaches
- various visual impairments
- nausea and vomiting
- severe pain in the abdomen or left side
- numbness, weakness in certain parts of the body
- seizures or loss of consciousness
- hearing loss or severe ringing in the ears
- change in urine color (it is dark and there is little urine)
- pain in the scrotum in men.
How is the diagnosis made?
In the typical course, the diagnosis is clear upon examination of the patient. But, to confirm the viral nature of the inflammation, the following is carried out:
- PCR blood test to detect mumps virus
- detection of antibodies to mumps
- a set of tests to assess the functions of internal organs.
It is especially important to determine antibodies to mumps in atypical or asymptomatic cases.
Quarantine measures
Prevention of mumps includes quarantine measures with strict isolation of a sick child or adult from people who have not been sick or who have not been vaccinated.
- Adults or children with mumps must isolate themselves from other people for 9 days from the onset of inflammation.
- In a children's group, if a person with mumps is identified, a quarantine is imposed for a period of 21 days from the date of the last case.
- All contact and unvaccinated children are examined daily by doctors; if they have symptoms of mumps, they are immediately isolated.
- In children's institutions, disinfection is carried out according to all rules, including dishes, toys and bed linen.
- The room where the patient was located must be thoroughly checked and a thorough cleaning and disinfection of all objects that the patient might have come into contact with must be carried out.
During quarantine, basic hygiene methods are necessary - washing hands with soap, especially after contact with the sick person and his things. It is also necessary to isolate the patient and provide him with separate hygiene products, bed linen and towels.
Treatment methods
There are no specific drugs for mumps; treatment is based on severity and symptoms. If there are no complications, mumps is treated at home, observing quarantine periods.
- Strict bed rest for up to 7-10 days from the onset of symptoms to avoid complications
- Diet - due to the soreness of the salivary glands, as well as the prevention of pancreatitis, food should be light, semi-liquid and warm, without fatty, spicy and fried foods (cabbage, animal fats, pasta and White bread, a dairy-vegetable table is preferable).
- Apply dry heat to the site of inflammation of the glands.
- Gargling boiled water or weak antiseptic solutions, treatment of colds.
The use of medications is indicated only in the presence of complications; this is usually done in a hospital. All treatment for mumps should be prescribed and supervised by a doctor.
Prevention of mumps
Specific prevention is vaccination of children and adults against mumps. The mumps vaccine is administered as part of the MMR trivaccine (measles, mumps, rubella) or as a separate live attenuated vaccine.
- According to the national vaccination calendar, it is administered at the age of 1 year and then at 6-7 years, before entering school. The drug is placed under the shoulder blade or in the shoulder area.
- If a child did not receive a vaccine as a child due to medical reasons or parental refusal, vaccination can be done as a teenager or adult. This is done according to epidemiological indications (at the source of infection) or at will.
Vaccination is carried out only for healthy children who have no contraindications:
- if you have a cold
- exacerbation of chronic diseases or weakness of the child does not do it
- Vaccination is contraindicated for children with diseases of the hematopoietic system
- immunodeficiencies
- if treatment with hormones was carried out.
According to individual indications, it can be carried out emergency vaccination. It must be performed within 72 hours, or better yet, on the first day after contact with the patient. This will lead to the production of antibodies and a mild form of the disease, and sometimes completely prevent its development.
Parotitis ( piggy) is a respiratory viral infection that poses a serious epidemiological danger due to its high contagiousness. The disease most often occurs in children ( most often at the age of 5 – 8 years). In children under 3 years of age, the infection is extremely rare. Increased danger infection remains until 15–16 years of age. Adults are less susceptible to mumps, but the possibility of infection remains.
Mumps does not pose a serious threat to the patient's life, however, much attention is paid to the treatment of the disease due to the high risk of complications. In recent decades, severe disease has been rare. Also, thanks to mass vaccination, the overall incidence of mumps has dropped in most countries.
Interesting Facts
- Mumps is often called mumps or mumps because of the characteristic swelling of the upper cheeks in front of the ears.
- The first description of a classic patient with mumps was made by Hippocrates 2,400 years ago.
- Great progress in the diagnosis and treatment of mumps was made by military doctors in the 17th – 19th centuries. During this period, mumps was often observed among soldiers due to the large crowding of people in the barracks and trenches and low level hygiene. Some sources of that time even called it “trench” or “soldier’s” disease.
- Viral nature Mumps was proven by infecting monkeys with the saliva of sick people.
- Under natural conditions, mumps is a strictly anthroponotic disease, that is, only people get it. Only in laboratory conditions transmission of the virus to some species of monkeys and dogs is possible, but such animals, although they themselves get sick, no longer pose a risk of infection.
- The first vaccine against mumps was obtained only in 1945.
- Mumps poses a great epidemic danger, so currently more than 80 countries around the world routinely vaccinate children against this disease.
The causative agent of mumps
The causative agent of mumps is a virus Pneumophila parotiditis from the family Paramyxoviridae. It is a strand of RNA ( genetic material), covered with a dense protein shell. When it enters a cell, the virus begins to multiply, duplicating genetic material. The cell of the macroorganism is used to produce proteins necessary for the formation of the capsule. When examined under a microscope, the virus appears as a polymorphic ( different shapes) particles ranging in size from 100 to 600 nm. They are unstable in the external environment and are quickly destroyed under the influence of various chemical and physical factors.
To inactivate the causative agent of mumps, the following measures can be used:
- exposure to high temperature;
- ultraviolet radiation ( including exposure to direct sunlight);
- drying;
- change in environmental pH ( exposure to an acidic or alkaline environment);
- impact ethyl alcohol (50% or more);
- exposure to formaldehyde solution ( 0.1% or more);
- other disinfectants.
In the human body, glandular cells of some parenchymal organs are sensitive to the mumps virus. Damage to the salivary glands is usually observed, and somewhat less frequently to the pancreas and gonads ( more often male testes than female ovaries). Damage to tissues of the nervous system is also possible.
Mumps infection occurs through airborne droplets. While breathing ( less), talking, coughing or sneezing, the patient spreads viral particles with droplets of saliva. When the virus enters the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract of another person, it infects glandular cells in the epithelium. Cases of infection when the virus enters the mucous membrane of the eyes have also been described ( conjunctiva). Its primary reproduction in the body occurs in the cells of the mucous membrane. After this, the virus enters the blood ( viremia or viremia stage) and spreads throughout all organs and systems. However, specific viral damage develops only in the cells of the above organs, which are particularly sensitive to this disease.
The mumps virus has the following specific mechanisms of tissue damage:
- Hemagglutinating activity. Hemagglutinating activity is the effect on red blood cells. Under the influence of specific substances, red blood cells stick together. This leads to the formation of microthrombi in the capillaries and contributes to the development of edema.
- Hemolytic activity . Hemolytic activity involves the destruction of blood cells ( primarily red blood cells) with the release of hemoglobin and a number of other toxic breakdown products.
- Neuraminidase activity. The specific enzyme neuraminidase facilitates the penetration of viral particles into the cell, which promotes the multiplication of the virus.
From an immunological point of view, the mumps virus is represented by a number of antigens. This unique substances, characteristic only for this group of microorganisms. In mumps virus, antigens are represented by capsule proteins. The human body perceives them as foreign substances. Upon contact with peripheral cells, recognition of the antigen structure occurs. Encoded information about the structure of a foreign substance is transmitted to the central organs of the immune system. Based on this information, an immune response is formed. It involves the production of specific antibodies. These are B lymphocytes equipped with a special receptor that recognizes the viral antigen. Antibodies circulate in the blood, selectively attaching to viral particles and leading to their destruction.
In people who have had mumps, antibodies continue to circulate in their blood throughout their lives. Therefore, when the virus re-enters the mucous membranes, it will be quickly neutralized by antibodies and the disease will not develop. The action of the mumps vaccine is based on this mechanism. However, even such acquired specific immunity to mumps is not absolute protection. It is believed that even after an illness, the risk remains ( about 0.5 – 1%) re-infection. In people who have undergone major operations with massive blood transfusions, or after a bone marrow transplant, the risk of re-infection increases to 20 - 25%, since a significant part of the antibodies is eliminated from the body.
Causes of mumps
Mumps is an infectious disease, so the only root cause of its development, one way or another, is the virus that has entered the body. In the body, it leads to the development of specific tissue damage according to the above mechanism. However, a number of predisposing factors can also be attributed to the reasons for the increased incidence of mumps. Their presence greatly increases the risk of infection. Risk factors for contracting mumps include:
- seasonality of the disease;
- refusal to vaccinate;
- weakening of general immunity;
- childhood;
- high density population;
- non-compliance sanitary regime.
Seasonality of the disease
The peak incidence of mumps occurs in the spring months ( March – May) in the northern hemisphere and during the autumn months ( October December) - in the south. This pattern is explained by weakened immunity. After a cold period, the body weakens and its protective resources are depleted. At this time of year, children's diets are usually poorest in vegetables and fruits, which leads to hypovitaminosis or vitamin deficiency ( forms of vitamin deficiency). In addition, the mumps virus survives well in the environment at temperatures around 0 degrees, which also increases the chances of becoming infected.Refusal of vaccination
In recent years, many parents have decided not to vaccinate their children due to the high risk of complications. Such a decision imposes a great responsibility on parents to their children. In the future, the child will be susceptible to the mumps virus and will be at risk. Unvaccinated people without specific immunity get sick upon first contact with the mumps pathogen in 95–97% of cases. Thus, the child will remain defenseless until adulthood, when he can make his own decision about vaccination. This creates additional problems for doctors and nurses in kindergartens and schools. Children without specific immunity constantly pose a danger to others. With mumps, the patient may be contagious even before the first symptoms appear. severe symptoms. This forces doctors in every case of acute respiratory infections ( acute respiratory disease ) and ARVI ( acute respiratory viral infection) suspect mumps and carry out additional diagnostic measures.Weakening of general immunity
The state of general immunity plays a significant role in protecting the human body from infection in principle. The immune system is able to fight the vast majority of viral and bacterial diseases, which reduces the likelihood of infection. As noted above, most people experience weakened immunity in late winter and early spring. However, the time of year in this case is not the only factor.A child’s immunity may be weakened for the following reasons:
- frequent colds;
- long course of antibiotic treatment;
- course of treatment with corticosteroid drugs;
- some chronic diseases ( chronic pyelonephritis, diabetes mellitus, etc.);
- irregular and unbalanced diet.
Childhood
As you know, mumps is considered a childhood infection. Children of primary school age are most often affected. As a result, it is during this period of time that parents should be most attentive. Children of senior school age ( after 15 years) and adults get sick on average 5–7 times less often.High population density
As with any infectious disease, population density plays an important role in mumps. First of all, we are talking about crowding of children in kindergartens and schools. In such conditions, one child with mumps can infect a large number of children at once. Thus, the threat of mumps outbreak increases within educational institutions. To avoid this, it is necessary to conduct classes in large, well-ventilated classrooms.Failure to comply with the sanitary regime
Patients who have not been isolated pose a high risk to others. As mentioned above, the patient is a source of infection from the last days of the incubation period ( 5 – 6 days before the first symptoms appear) until 7–9 days of the disease. During this period, the patient should stay at home to avoid the spread of infection. Failure to comply with the sanitary regime increases the risk of infection of people who come into contact with the patient.Types of mumps
As noted above, the mumps pathogen has increased activity against a number of glandular organs. Depending on which of these organs are affected, certain symptoms will predominate during the course of the disease. In many ways, the clinical form of mumps also determines the risk of certain complications and treatment tactics. The main clinical forms of mumps are:
- damage to the salivary glands;
- testicular damage;
- damage to the pancreas;
- damage to other organs and systems.
Damage to the salivary glands
The actual name of the disease, mumps, suggests inflammation of the parotid salivary glands. They are located in front and downward relative to the auricle. As a rule, the process affects both parotid glands, but unilateral variants also occur. Symptoms can also develop first on one side, and only after a few days the disease spreads to the paired gland.Somewhat less often parotid glands mumps also affects other salivary glands ( submandibular and sublingual). This variant of the course of the disease, when the inflammatory process develops only within the salivary glands ( one or more), is considered uncomplicated. It is characterized by a number of typical symptoms.
Symptoms of damage to the salivary glands due to mumps
| Symptom | Appearance mechanism | Features of mumps |
| Pain when moving the jaw | Pain appears mainly due to severe swelling of the gland tissue and stretching of its capsule. It is extremely rare to observe the formation of pus in the gland, then the pain becomes acute and is caused by the destruction of gland tissue and irritation of the nerve endings. | Pain and discomfort appear as swelling develops or precede it. Usually the pain is dull and not intense. They persist for 7 to 10 days until the swelling subsides. |
| The swelling is explained by the intensive development of the virus in the cells of the salivary gland. This leads to the establishment of inflammatory edema. | Swelling of the parotid glands gives the face the characteristic shape of mumps, protruding the earlobes to the sides. This symptom It is considered specific to mumps and appears extremely rarely in other diseases. | |
| Increased body temperature | An increase in body temperature is explained by the multiplication of the virus and the entry of its waste products into the blood. A chain of biochemical reactions leads to the release of pyrogens - specific substances that affect the thermoregulation center in the brain. Its irritation leads to an increase in body temperature. | The temperature rises in the prodromal period of the disease, or at the stage of specific manifestations of the disease. It often begins to rise 24 to 48 hours before the salivary glands are affected. The rise in temperature is usually sharp, accompanied by chills. Starting from the 4th – 5th day of illness, in the absence of complications, the temperature begins to subside. In the first days it can reach 39 - 40 degrees. |
| Dry mouth | Dry mouth occurs due to dysfunction of the salivary glands. It is often accompanied by redness of the mucous membrane of the mouth and pharynx. | The symptom is usually not very pronounced and goes away quickly. Patients experience some discomfort due to dryness only during the first days of illness. |
| Noise in ears | Tinnitus can be caused by pressure on the external auditory canal. In case of defeat auditory nerve symptoms are much more pronounced. This form is classified as a specific complication – labyrinthitis. | Tinnitus is rare and appears sporadically in the first days of illness. In the absence of damage to the auditory nerve, patients often do not even mention this symptom when visiting a doctor. |
| Characteristic head posture | Significant swelling of the salivary glands provokes pain when moving the head, so patients try not to move it. | The symptom is especially noticeable in the first days of the disease, when the swelling increases. The head is usually tilted to the affected side ( with unilateral damage), or slightly pulled into the shoulders when bilateral. |
Testicular damage
Testicular damage is one of the serious complications mumps. It occurs mainly in adult men who were not vaccinated against mumps in childhood. In children and adolescents this form Mumps is less common. Typically, the spread of the virus to testicular tissue occurs after damage to the salivary glands ( for 5 - 7 days). This is accompanied by the appearance of new symptoms and a noticeable deterioration in the general condition of the patient. In rare cases, orchitis or epididymitis ( inflammation of the testicle or epididymis, respectively) is the first specific manifestation of the disease. In other words, it is not preceded by damage to the salivary glands. In such cases, making a diagnosis is often difficult, as doctors look for other causes of the inflammatory process. Orchitis is most often unilateral ( only one testicle is affected), however, two-way processes also occur. The disease lasts 7–9 days, after which it enters the extinction phase and the symptoms begin to subside.Typical symptoms during the development of orchitis in patients with mumps
| Symptom | Appearance mechanism | Features of mumps |
| New wave of fever | A new wave of fever is noted due to massive damage to a new area of tissue by the virus ( testicle and epididymis). This is accompanied by circulation in the blood toxic substances irritating the thermoregulation center. | Usually there is a new increase in temperature to 39 - 40 degrees. In the following days, it gradually decreases. Orchitis must be treated in a hospital setting, as there is a risk of irreversible infertility. |
| Testicular enlargement | The testicle enlarges due to inflammatory edema. The virus penetrates the gland tissue, causing inflammation. As leukocytes migrate to the site, specific mediators are released. They increase capillary permeability and promote the release of fluid from vessels into tissues. | The testicle can increase in size by one and a half to two times. Its decrease occurs gradually as other symptoms recede. |
| Hyperemia of the scrotum | Hyperemia ( redness) of the scrotum is explained by a rush of blood to the affected organ and the establishment of inflammatory edema. | Hyperemia is observed quite rarely and may go unnoticed with significant hair growth in the groin area. |
| Groin pain | Pain in the groin appears due to the establishment of inflammatory edema. In this case, there is mechanical compression of pain receptors. | Pain in the groin with mumps is dull, not intense ( as the swelling increases gradually). They can radiate to the lumbar region, leg or suprapubic region. When moving or urinating, the pain intensifies. As a result, the patient may limp. |
| Urinary disorders | Urinary problems appear reflexively due to increased pain. Contraction of the muscles that empty the bladder slightly increases the pressure in the scrotum, squeezing the nerve receptors. The patient may experience fear of urinating ( especially children), they go to the toilet often and little by little. | Urinary problems are a rare symptom and usually last no more than a few days during the most active phase of the disease. |
| Priapism (prolonged painful erection) | Due to testicular swelling, irritation of the receptors responsible for filling the cavernous bodies of the penis with blood occurs. An erection is established that is not associated with external stimuli. | This symptom is observed extremely rarely and usually lasts no more than 24–36 hours ( usually several hours). |
Pancreatic damage
Damage to the pancreas in mumps is quite rare ( 2 – 3% of cases). Some researchers believe that the low percentage is due to insufficient diagnosis, and pancreatitis with mumps is much more common. Be that as it may, this complication requires special attention, as it can lead to serious structural changes in the structure of the gland and disorders of its function. The first specific signs of pancreatitis are observed on days 4–7 of the disease and almost always follow damage to the salivary glands. Isolated damage to the pancreas without affecting other organs and systems in patients with mumps is extremely rare. The patient's condition noticeably worsens with the development of pancreatitis. Such patients are recommended to be hospitalized for more intensive treatment.Symptoms of pancreatic damage in patients with mumps
| Symptom | Appearance mechanism | Features of mumps |
| Pain | Pain occurs due to tissue swelling. Usually, in the case of pancreatitis against the background of mumps, the swelling is not so severe, but the organ itself is extremely sensitive. | The pain is localized in the epigastrium ( top part belly) and are encircling in nature. They can radiate to the back or shoulder blades and reach significant intensity. |
| Fever | The mechanism of a new round of temperature in pancreatitis is similar to that in other localizations of the virus and is associated with irritation of the thermoregulation center. | The temperature rises quickly, usually following the onset of pain. Can reach 38 – 39 degrees. Lasts from 3 to 9 days ( depends on the intensity of treatment). |
| Vomit | The pancreas takes an active part in the digestion process. Its infection by the virus reduces the release of digestive enzymes and makes it difficult to digest food. This may cause repeated episodes of vomiting over the course of the illness. In addition, at the beginning of the disease, single vomiting can be observed due to reflex irritation of the nerves. | Vomiting is usually one-time at the onset of the disease. Repeated episodes indicate massive tissue damage and worsen the prognosis. To prevent and reduce vomiting, you should follow an appropriate diet, which will be described below, and take pancreatic enzymes to facilitate the digestion of food during illness. |
| Diarrhea | Diarrhea is also observed due to insufficient digestion of food in small intestine. Because of this, many substances enter the colon poorly digested, are not absorbed and cause irritation of the mucous membrane. This reflexively leads to increased bowel movements. | Diarrhea is rare and lasts several days. The symptom can only drag on if a secondary bacterial infection occurs or complications develop ( accumulation of pus or necrosis of the pancreas). |
| Abdominal muscle tension | Tension of the abdominal muscles is a reflex in nature due to swelling and irritation of the peritoneum. | On palpation, the abdomen is hard, pressure causes increased pain. The patient cannot voluntarily relax the abdominal muscles. |
The main danger of pancreatitis in patients with mumps is the possible irreversible damage to the islets of Langerhans, which produce insulin. In this case, after recovery, the patient will suffer from type 1 diabetes.
Damage to other organs and systems
Damage to other organs and systems with mumps is quite rare. In general, they do not pose a serious threat to the health of patients. However, some clinical forms diseases ( serous meningitis) maybe without timely treatment even lead to death. It is precisely because of the threat of such complications that mass vaccination of children against mumps is currently recommended.Damage to other organs and systems due to mumps
| Complication | Typical symptoms | Features of the course of the disease |
| Oophoritis (inflammation of the ovaries in women) | Lower abdominal pain, menstrual irregularities ( amenorrhea or dysmenorrhea), intermenstrual bleeding, pain during sexual intercourse. The temperature may remain low-grade ( 37 – 38 degrees), but more often it increases slightly. | Oophoritis occurs more often in children than in adult women. In general, it is a rare complication of mumps, and unlike orchitis in men, it almost never leads to infertility. An ultrasound examination is usually sufficient to confirm the diagnosis ( Ultrasound). |
| Thyroiditis (inflammation of the thyroid gland) | Enlargement of the thyroid gland ( swelling in the throat area), pain in the neck area, radiating to the back of the head, lower and upper jaw, enlarged cervical lymph nodes, increased body temperature, chills, headache, weakness, sweating, increased heart rate. | Thyroiditis as a complication of mumps is rare, but can lead to very serious consequences. In particular, there is the possibility of developing an autoimmune process. In such cases, the patient may suffer from thyroid hormone deficiency after recovery. To treat thyroiditis, an endocrinologist is involved. |
| Meningitis and meningoencephalitis (inflammation of the meninges and the brain itself) | Acute onset, increased body temperature to 39 - 40 degrees, severe headache, vomiting central genesis (without previous nausea). Meningeal syndrome: rigidity occipital muscles, Kernig's sign and Brudzinski's sign ( top and bottom), Lesage's sign ( in children). In addition, it is noted characteristic changes in analysis cerebrospinal fluid: liquid flows out under pressure, protein content up to 2.5 g/l, cytosis up to 1000 cells in 1 μl, chlorides and glucose are normal. When the brain tissue itself is damaged ( encephalitis) lethargy, drowsiness, disturbances of consciousness, paralysis and paresis are observed. | Serous meningitis develops 4–7 days after damage to the salivary glands, less often - simultaneously with it. Despite the fact that the course of the disease sharply worsens with the development of meningitis, the prognosis is usually favorable. Treatment is carried out only in a hospital setting and lasts at least 2 to 3 weeks. Meningeal syndrome, with proper treatment, disappears on the 10th – 12th day of illness. The cerebrospinal fluid indicators are the last to return to normal ( in 1.5 – 2 months). |
| Prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate gland) | Fever, chills, rapid and painful urination, weakness, headaches, feeling tired. | With a specific lesion of the prostate gland, a sharp deterioration in the patient’s condition occurs with a new wave of fever and signs of intoxication. Recommended hospital treatment patients with this complication. With adequate treatment of prostatitis, all symptoms subside as you recover ( within 1 – 2 weeks) without any consequences. |
| Labyrinthitis (damage to the hearing organ) | Headaches, nausea ( maybe without vomiting), dizziness, lack of coordination of movements, noise and ringing in the ears. Hearing loss or, conversely, ringing in the ears can be one-sided. | Labyrinthitis is rare complication pigs. It can be called high blood pressure in the area of the auricle due to inflammatory edema, however, the symptoms are more pronounced with specific damage to the auditory nerve and vestibular apparatus. If labyrinthitis develops, consultation with an ENT doctor is required. Hearing symptoms usually last no more than a few days and disappear as you recover. |
| Arthritis (joint damage) | Swelling of the joints, pain, stiffness of movement. | Arthritis in mumps rarely develops, usually 1 to 2 weeks after the onset of the disease. In rare cases, simultaneous lesions may occur large joints (knee, ankle, elbow, shoulder, wrist) and salivary glands. This complication is more common in men. Symptoms disappear as you recover, rarely leaving serious consequences. For moderate joint damage without intense swelling, treatment is allowed this complication at home. |
| Dacryoadenitis (inflammation of the lacrimal glands) | Swelling of the eyelids ( often bilateral), severe swelling, soreness, redness of the eyes, dry eyes. | This complication is quite rare and requires urgent consultation with an ophthalmologist. During the course of the disease, special drops are prescribed to moisturize and nourish the mucous membrane. The prognosis is usually favorable. It is extremely rare that dacryoadenitis can, in turn, be complicated by an abscess of the lacrimal gland. |
| Mastitis (inflammation of the mammary glands) | The disease is characterized by fever, tenderness and hardening of the mammary glands. Rarely there is a small amount of discharge ( mucus or, less commonly, pus). | Mastitis develops mainly in girls and women, but in men the appearance of this complication is also possible. The general condition of the patient suffers little. Symptoms are short-lived and quickly subside with treatment. |
During what period is the patient dangerous for others (infectious)?
The infectiousness of a patient with mumps is one of the most important criteria in the course of the disease. It is she who predetermines the period of time when the patient should be isolated in a hospital or at home. With mumps, the contagious period ( time when the patient is contagious) may vary. For better orientation in time, it is necessary to know all periods of the course of this disease. During mumps, the following stages are distinguished:
- incubation period;
- prodromal period;
- period of main manifestations of the disease;
- period of extinction;
- recovery period.
Incubation period
The incubation period is the period of time during which the virus has already entered the human body, but the disease as such has not yet occurred. In other words, nothing bothers the patient and he does not suspect that he is sick. During this period, the virus multiplies in the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract and penetrates into bloodstream. In rare cases, at the end of the incubation period, the patient begins to be bothered by subtle general symptoms such as weakness, increased fatigue, drowsiness.For mumps, the incubation period lasts from 11 to 23 days ( maximum described duration – 30 – 35 days). The danger lies in the fact that already in the last days of the incubation period the patient can pose a danger of infection to others. In some cases, virus particles may be contained in saliva even before the first ones appear. obvious symptoms diseases.
Prodromal period
The prodromal period is a period not specific symptoms. That is, a person understands that he is sick, but it is still impossible to make a diagnosis based on the symptoms. In patients with mumps, the prodromal period usually lasts no more than 24–36 hours, but can often be absent altogether. Typical symptoms include headache, muscle pain, joint pain, and sleep disturbances. If a prodromal period is present, then the patient is infectious throughout this time.Period of main manifestations of the disease
This period is characterized by the appearance of symptoms characteristic of mumps. First of all we're talking about about redness of the mucous membrane of the mouth, throat and pharynx. Redness is especially pronounced in the area of the excretory ducts of the salivary glands. Somewhat later, discomfort and swelling of the parotid salivary glands appear ( area below and in front of the earlobe). The patient continues to actively secrete viral particles for another 5–9 days after the appearance of the first characteristic symptoms. It can be difficult to unambiguously determine this period, since enlargement of the parotid salivary glands is not always the first symptom. In an atypical course of the disease, the virus may first infect the gonads or pancreas.Extinction period
Specific symptoms usually subside 7 to 9 days after their onset. More long course the active phase is observed when several glands are affected or associated complications. During the period of extinction, some may still remain visible symptoms (swelling of the salivary glands and characteristic shape faces), but their intensity decreases. As a rule, by this point in time the temperature also returns to normal. The patient in this phase no longer poses a threat of infection to others and, if he feels normal and there are no complications, can return to the educational or work team.Recovery period
During the recovery period, all specific and nonspecific symptoms gradually disappear. Treatment is only required when complications from mumps have led to serious health consequences. In this case, there can be no talk of any contagiousness of the child. By this time, immunity had already formed and the patient finally stopped releasing viral particles.Thus, the period of danger for others lasts on average 7–9 days. It is for this period that it is recommended to isolate patients who have been diagnosed with mumps.
During the period when the patient is contagious, he requires especially careful and attentive care. The most important task is to prevent the spread of infection. In addition to bed rest, it is necessary to observe all nonspecific preventive measures, which will be discussed in detail below. In the case of an atypical course of the disease ( if the diagnosis was made late), specific care should be discussed with the attending infectious disease specialist.
Treatment of mumps
Treatment of mumps in most cases is carried out at home. Patients are prescribed bed rest from the time of diagnosis until the period of symptoms subsiding ( 1 – 2 weeks in the absence of complications). The final decision on the patient's care regimen and treatment conditions is made by the attending infectious disease specialist after examining the patient. In case of complicated mumps, hospitalization of the patient for more intensive treatment is recommended. To prevent residual effects after mumps, in addition to an infectious disease specialist, other specialists are often involved:
- endocrinologist with damage to the gonads, thyroid or pancreas;
- neurologist with the development of serous meningitis or meningoencephalitis;
- otorhinolaryngologist ( ENT) with the development of labyrinthitis;
- rheumatologist with concomitant severe joint damage.
Does not currently exist effective treatment, directed against the virus that causes mumps. In this regard, emphasis is placed on symptomatic treatment to prevent the development of complications and reduce the suffering of the patient. If the course is favorable and only the salivary glands are affected, treatment lasts about 2 weeks.
In general, treatment of mumps can be divided into several areas:
- adherence to the regimen and patient care;
- diet;
- drug treatment ( can vary greatly with the development of complications).
Compliance with the regime and patient care
During treatment, bed rest is recommended, even for uncomplicated forms of mumps. It must be observed for about 10 days - from the moment of diagnosis until the acute symptoms disappear. If necessary, this period can be increased by the attending physician according to individual indications. The patient should avoid physical and emotional stress, and also avoid hypothermia. Statistically, in people who do not comply with bed rest during the acute period of illness, various complications observed several times more often ( This is especially true for orchitis in men).Patient care includes measures to prevent the spread of the disease. It is advisable to use masks or gauze bandages to prevent infection. It is strictly forbidden to allow unvaccinated people to visit a patient during the infectious period.
Diet
A diet for mumps is followed primarily to avoid the development of pancreatitis. To do this, you need to follow a few simple nutritional principles. They belong to the standard diet number 5 according to Pevzner.A diet for the prevention of pancreatitis involves adherence to the following principles:
- limited calorie diet ( no more than 2600 Kcal);
- frequent diet ( 4 – 5 times a day in small portions);
- consumption of 1.5 - 2 liters of fluid per day.
Consumption of various foods as part of diet number 5 according to Pevzner
| Authorized Products | Products whose consumption should be limited | Prohibited Products |
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The same principles of diet are followed during the development of pancreatitis. A more detailed diet can be developed individually with your doctor.
Drug treatment
As noted above, drug treatment for mumps is symptomatic and aimed at eliminating the manifestations of the disease. Typically, timely initiation of such treatment prevents the development of complications and residual effects after the disease. Severe forms, which cause complications even during treatment, can only be observed in people who were not vaccinated in childhood. In people with specific immunity against mumps, the prognosis in the vast majority of cases is favorable. An important condition is quick diagnostics and initiation of drug treatment. Mumps cannot be treated on your own due to the high risk of complications. You should also not apply warm compresses to swollen areas - salivary glands or testicles - during the period of swelling. This will increase swelling and worsen the course of the disease. The groups of medications used in the treatment of mumps are shown in the table.Groups of drugs used to treat mumps
| Group of drugs | Representatives | Mechanism of action | Directions for use |
| Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs | Ibufen, ibuprofen, diclofenac, aspirin, piroxicam, ketoprofen. | Drugs in this series effectively reduce high fever and reduce inflammation. | These drugs form the basis of treatment in cases of uncomplicated mumps. The appointment is made by the attending physician based on the patient’s age and the intensity of the inflammatory process. |
| Corticosteroid drugs | Dexamethasone, methylprednisolone, prednisone. | These drugs have a significantly stronger anti-inflammatory effect. A side effect is suppression of the immune system. | Used for severe complications to quickly relieve inflammation ( for orchitis). The dosage and regimen of taking corticosteroids must be agreed with the attending physician. |
| Desensitizing drugs | Suprastin, Tavegil, Erius. | These drugs also fight intense inflammation and reduce the reactivity of the immune system. | Prescribed in parallel with other drugs throughout the acute period. |
| Analgesics ( painkillers) | Analgia, baralgin, pentalgin. | Drugs in this group combat severe pain syndrome, if present in patients. | These drugs are not used in all cases. Pain relief is usually required for pancreatitis, orchitis and meningitis. |
| Pancreatic enzyme preparations. | Festal, pancreatin, mezim. | Helps improve digestion and normal absorption of food. They are analogues of natural pancreatic enzymes. | They are used only in the development of pancreatitis with severe gastrointestinal symptoms ( gastrointestinal tract ): vomiting, diarrhea. |
Other groups of drugs are used less frequently. They are prescribed based on which organ or system is affected. The choice of drugs and their dosage should be made only by the attending physician after a thorough examination of the patient. Many drugs used in the treatment of mumps have side effects and can aggravate the disease if taken incorrectly.
Besides drug therapy Irradiation of the salivary glands, spinal cord puncture, or cold application to the abdomen in the projection of the pancreas may be indicated. These measures contribute to a speedy recovery and improve general state sick.
Consequences of mumps
Despite the fact that with the invention and introduction of the mumps vaccine, deaths are recorded extremely rarely, this infection is still classified as dangerous diseases. This is mainly due to a number of complications and residual effects that can be observed after mumps. They are quite rare, but in some cases they can lead to irreversible consequences and even cause disability. Mumps, if detected early and treated correctly, in most cases has mild course and does not lead to complications. However, with a decrease protective forces body or in the presence of concomitant diseases of organs and systems that are targets for the causative agent of mumps, the complications described above may occur. After some of them, serious residual effects may remain that will make themselves felt throughout life.
Residual effects after mumps include:
- infertility;
- deafness;
- diabetes;
- dry eye syndrome;
- sensitivity disorders.
Infertility
Infertility as a residual phenomenon after mumps occurs mainly in men. First of all, this applies to those who were not vaccinated in childhood and do not have specific immunity. For such people in adulthood, there is a high risk of developing orchitis or epididymitis with irreversible damage to the gonads. In women, infertility due to oophoritis due to mumps is very rare. Because of the threat of this residual phenomenon, all patients with mumps with signs of damage to the testicles and ovaries must be treated in a hospital setting under the watchful supervision of specialists.Deafness
Deafness can develop due to damage to the auditory nerve or inner ear ( a consequence of labyrinthitis). Hearing loss in advanced cases is irreversible. However similar complications are extremely rare, and the standard treatment regimen for infection usually prevents deafness even when there are obvious signs of hearing damage.Diabetes
Due to a massive inflammatory process at the level of the pancreas, the islets of Langerhans may be damaged. These are areas of cells in the gland tissue that produce the hormone insulin. It is necessary to lower blood glucose levels and store them in cells as an energy reserve. If mumps is complicated by acute pancreatitis, there is a risk of irreversible disturbances in the formation of insulin. The cells that produce this hormone die, leading to its deficiency. This mechanism of increasing blood sugar is characteristic of type 1 diabetes. Despite the rarity of this residual phenomenon, doctors treat its timely diagnosis with great attention. Loss of time or errors in treatment can lead to the patient suffering from a lack of insulin throughout his life. If blood glucose levels increase in patients with mumps, it is necessary to consult an endocrinologist.Dry eye syndrome
Dry eye syndrome can be observed for some time after dacryoadenitis. Inflammation of the lacrimal glands is accompanied by a decrease in the secretion of their secretions and impaired nutrition of the eye. This leads to rapid drying of the mucous membrane, constant pain in the eyes and discomfort. To solve this problem, you need to consult an ophthalmologist. As a rule, these disorders are reversible and persist for several weeks ( rarely – months) after an infection.Sensory disorders
Sensory disturbances are the result of serous meningitis or meningoencephalitis. With these complications of mumps, the membranes and tissues of the brain are affected ( less often than dorsal) brain. Directly during the course of the disease, sluggish paralysis and paresis may be observed. Sensitivity in severe forms takes a long time to recover, which explains the residual effects after a seemingly complete recovery. As a rule, sensitivity is restored after some time ( months, years). Lifelong persistence of these residual effects is extremely rare.Prevention of mumps
Prevention of mumps includes specific and nonspecific measures. Their ultimate goal is to reduce the incidence of mumps in general, as well as to prevent severe forms of the disease. TO nonspecific prevention mumps include the following measures:
- Isolation of sick people during illness. Isolation is carried out mainly at home, where the patient receives the necessary treatment. Hospitalization is provided not for the purpose of isolating the patient, but for more intensive treatment in case of complications. Considering that mumps is common mainly among children, this measure includes exemption from school or kindergarten for as long as the child poses a danger to others. Isolation is carried out during the acute period. The patient is considered non-infectious starting from the 9th day of the acute phase. Unvaccinated children who have been in contact with a sick person are subject to isolation for a period of 11 to 21 days ( at the discretion of the epidemiologist or infectious disease specialist eliminating the source of infection).
- Ventilation of the rooms in which the patient was located. Considering that infection occurs through airborne droplets, ventilation helps reduce its likelihood. At home, it is enough to ventilate the room in which the patient is constantly located several times a day.
- Disinfection of objects with which the patient has been in contact. If we are talking about a case of mumps in kindergarten, then it is necessary to disinfect toys and other items in the playroom. A single treatment is considered sufficient medical alcohol, or chlorine-containing disinfectants. Microscopic drops of saliva on objects can retain enough viral particles to cause infection. Disinfection will eliminate the possibility of such infection. At home, it is necessary to regularly disinfect the dishes from which the patient eats, and other objects on which drops of saliva may remain.
- Wearing protective masks. Reliable protection from infection is the patient wearing a special protective mask or gauze bandage (the gauze is folded several times). Drops of saliva containing the virus linger on the tissue and do not reach the mucous membrane. Theoretically, there remains the possibility of infection through the conjunctiva of the eyes, but such cases are extremely rare.
- Strengthening nonspecific immunity. Strengthening nonspecific immunity involves limiting alcohol consumption, quitting smoking and regular walks in the fresh air. Hypothermia must also be avoided. An important component Proper nutrition is key to strengthening the immune system. It should include both plant and animal foods with sufficient vitamins. Balanced diet, which is necessary to strengthen the immune system, should not be confused with a special diet for patients who already have mumps.
Specific prevention mumps requires widespread vaccination of children. Currently it is carried out in many countries around the world. mandatory to prevent epidemics. The advent and widespread use of the mumps vaccine has reduced the incidence of the disease by more than 50 times.
Types of mumps vaccines
There are several types of mumps vaccines. They differ in the methods of production, methods of use and the effectiveness of immune protection. Each vaccine has a number of advantages and disadvantages.The following types of mumps vaccines are available:
- Inactivated vaccine. Inactivated vaccines are those that contain a certain amount of killed viral particles. Inactivation is carried out by ultraviolet radiation or exposure to chemicals. In this case, exposure to chemical disinfectants should be moderate, and irradiation should be dosed. The virus must completely lose its pathogenicity ( possibility of causing disease), but retain its structure. The immune system, in response to the ingress of structural proteins, will produce the necessary set of antibodies, which will provide the patient with protection. Vaccination with inactivated viral particles is safe in terms of complications or adverse reactions. The disadvantage of this type of vaccine is its relatively low immunogenicity. In other words, the likelihood of developing reliable immunity against the disease is lower than with live vaccines.
- Live attenuated ( weakened) vaccine. Live vaccines are those drugs that contain live, weakened viral particles. The common strain of the mumps pathogen is bred in the laboratory on nutrient media. With repeated reseeding of the culture, the pathogenicity of microorganisms decreases. In other words, the virus in the laboratory is not allowed to fully grow and multiply. As a result, a strain is obtained that, once in the human body, will no longer cause serious illness. The patient, in principle, will recover from mumps in an asymptomatic form without the risk of developing any complications. Since the administration of a live vaccine preserves the integrity of the viral particles, the immunity acquired by the body is very reliable. The disadvantage of live attenuated vaccines is the higher risk of allergic reactions and other side effects after vaccination.
- Combination vaccine. Combination vaccines are those containing antigens from two or more different microorganisms. In particular, the mumps vaccine often comes in the same vial as the measles and rubella vaccine. When such drugs are introduced into a healthy child's body, the immune system produces antibodies against each of these infections. Due to the large number of diseases against which children are vaccinated these days, combining several vaccines within one drug greatly simplifies the vaccination process. Most countries give preference to combination drugs when vaccinating against mumps.
Mechanism of action of the vaccine
Regardless of what type of vaccine was used, the child’s body recognizes the antigens and produces appropriate antibodies against them. With mumps in particular, these antibodies will continue to circulate in the blood throughout life. To ensure the formation of immunity, revaccination is provided in many countries. This is a second injection of the vaccine several years after the first. It is required, as a rule, when using combination drugs.Vaccination dates
There is no single universal standard for the timing of administration of the mumps vaccine. Many countries using combination vaccine measles - mumps - rubella, children are vaccinated twice - at 12 months and at 6 or 7 years. However, in national calendar Vaccination times for each country may vary slightly. The drug is injected into the area of the scapula or the deltoid muscle ( middle or upper third of the shoulder) subcutaneously in a volume of 0.5 ml.If the child was not vaccinated as a child ( in case of parental refusal to vaccinate), vaccination can also be carried out in adulthood. This is done at the request of the patient himself or according to epidemiological indications ( directly during a mumps epidemic). Emergency immunoprophylaxis is carried out according to individual indications, if a person has been in contact with a person known to have mumps and has been exposed to a high risk of infection. In such cases, urgent vaccination is possible no later than 72 hours after the first contact ( preferably on the first day). Then the body will have time to produce antibodies, and the disease will pass in a mild form without complications.
In addition, there are a number of situations when the timing of vaccination can be changed for medical reasons, even if the parents did not refuse the procedure.
Vaccination may be delayed for the following reasons:
- acute infectious diseases in the last 1 - 2 months before vaccination;
- exacerbation of chronic diseases;
- malnutrition ( insufficient or unbalanced nutrition leading to malnutrition of the child);
- taking corticosteroid drugs in the last 1–2 months before vaccination;
- diseases of the hematopoietic system;
- other pathological conditions accompanied by weakened immunity.
Side effects and complications after the vaccine
As noted above, for vaccination against mumps, mainly a live attenuated culture of the virus is used. As a result, there is a risk of developing side effects and complications. Side effects include local nonspecific reactions of the body to the administration of the vaccine. Complications imply the appearance of symptoms characteristic of the disease for which the vaccine was administered.If the mumps vaccine is administered, the following side effects and complications may occur:
- Redness and soreness at the injection site. Most often, they are caused by an inadequate response of the body to the vaccine. If there is a sufficient amount of antibodies in the blood ( after the first vaccination or after an illness), then they will actively fight the virus upon repeated local injection.
- Allergic reactions. They are quite rare and can be caused not only by the virus strain itself, but also by other components of the drug. Allergic phenomena ( itching, urticaria) usually go away on their own within a few days. Severe systemic allergic reaction- anaphylactic shock . He requires resuscitation due to sharp fall blood pressure, poor circulation and possible respiratory arrest.
- Low-grade fever. Temperatures within 37 - 38 degrees can remain for 5 - 7 days after vaccination. With more prolonged fever or a higher temperature, it is advisable to undergo examination by a general practitioner to rule out other causes.
- Swelling and redness of the mucous membrane of the throat. Phenomena resembling catarrhal tonsillitis may occur due to the abundance of lymphatic tissue in the tonsils. This tissue responds with inflammation to the vaccine. Symptoms may persist for 5 to 12 days, but almost never progress to severe sore throat With high temperature and the formation of plaque on the tonsils.
- Enlargement of the parotid salivary glands. This symptom can no longer be attributed to side effects, but to complications of vaccination. The virus contained in the drug is most sensitive to the tissues of the salivary glands. Therefore, their increase indicates that the body could not cope even with a weakened strain of the virus. On the other hand, this strain will not lead to a prolonged increase in temperature or complications from other organs. In most cases, the swelling will disappear on its own within a few days. The main reason is considered to be weakened immunity, which did not allow one to overcome the virus. This suggests that before vaccination there were any contraindications that the doctor did not take into account or did not notice. It was desirable to postpone the administration of the drug. If swelling of the parotid glands appears after the vaccine is administered, it is advisable to see a general practitioner.
- Serous meningitis. Serous meningitis develops extremely rarely after vaccine administration. He says that the patient had contraindications to vaccination and his immunity was greatly weakened at the time of encountering the virus. In rare cases, medical personnel violate the rules of vaccination. The risk of severe complications increases when an excess amount of vaccine is administered ( more than 0.5 ml). In addition, a number of drugs contain a larger number of viral particles, even at a standard dose. If meningeal symptoms appear, you should urgently seek qualified medical help.
Answers to frequently asked questions
Is it possible to get mumps again?
As a rule, people who had mumps in childhood do not get sick again. This is explained by the mechanism of the immune response to infection. However, cases of reinfection have been described in the literature. It is believed that the probability of recurrent disease is no more than 2% ( according to some authors less than 0.5%). This is the basis for the mumps vaccination system for children. For a deeper understanding of the issue, it is necessary to understand in more detail the mechanism of formation of specific immunity.Specific immunity is the one produced by the body against a specific type of microbe. It appears upon contact of microbial antigens ( proteins typical for a given microbe) with special cells in tissues - macrophages. Macrophages not only absorb a foreign organism, trying to neutralize it, but also trigger a complex chain of cellular reactions aimed at forming an immune response. As a result, special substances appear in the patient’s blood – antibodies, aimed at destroying a specific type of microbe. Specific immunity is formed several weeks or months after the first episode of the disease. The duration of protection depends on how long the antibodies circulate in the patient’s blood. This period is different for different infectious diseases.
With mumps, antibodies continue to circulate in the blood for almost your entire life. Therefore, when the virus enters the mucous membrane a second time, it will be quickly identified and destroyed, and the disease will not develop. Artificially provoke the formation of antibodies against mumps using a vaccine. A vaccinated person has almost the same immunity as a person who has had mumps.
However, this mechanism does not provide 100% protection. This applies to both people who have had mumps and vaccinated children. The re-development of the infection is explained by the fact that antibodies against the infectious agent stop circulating in the blood. This makes the body vulnerable.
The reasons for re-infection with mumps may be:
- Prolonged direct contact with the patient. As a result, a large number of microbes enter the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract, and there may simply not be enough antibodies in the blood to instantly neutralize all viral particles. Then the person will suffer a mild form of the disease.
- Poor quality vaccine. A low-quality vaccine or a vaccine that has expired can cause unreliable immunity. Then the specific protection will last only a few years. The person will think that he has been vaccinated against mumps. This may lead to severe forms diseases in adulthood.
- Massive blood transfusions or bone marrow transplants. Antibodies circulating in the blood can be removed from the body by massive blood transfusions. Bone marrow transplantation affects the hematopoietic system as a whole. Similarly, a person can lose specific immunity when serious illnesses hematopoietic system.
- Vaccination if there are contraindications. Vaccination is not recommended if there are any infections in the body. acute phase. For example, when elevated temperature on the day of vaccination, the procedure can be postponed until recovery. The fact is that diseases in the acute phase affect the reactivity of the immune system. As a result of this influence, the immune response will be insufficient and future protection will be unreliable.
What is the duration of mumps and recovery time?
The total duration of the course of mumps consists of several phases. They are typical for almost all infectious diseases, but in each individual case they have a certain duration. In addition, there are a number of factors that affect the speed of the disease and the timing of final recovery.During mumps the following stages are distinguished:
- Incubation period. This stage begins when the virus enters the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract. The virus gradually multiplies and spreads through the bloodstream throughout the body. The end of the incubation period is considered to be the appearance of the first pronounced symptoms. The duration of this stage ranges from 11 to 23 days ( usually about 2 weeks). Patients often do not include the incubation period in the duration of the disease because they themselves do not feel sick.
- Prodromal period. The prodromal period is a period of nonspecific symptoms. A person begins to feel sick, but rarely immediately consults a doctor. He suffers from headaches and muscle pains, general weakness, drowsiness, decreased performance. These symptoms are due to toxins circulating in the blood. With mumps, the duration of the prodromal period is short - from 24 to 36 hours. In children it is often completely absent.
- Period of specific manifestations. At this stage there appear typical symptoms mumps. It starts with rapid promotion temperatures, with the classic course of the disease up to 39 - 40 degrees. Characteristic symptoms are redness of the oral mucosa in the area of the ducts of the salivary glands, swelling of the salivary glands themselves. If the disease proceeds without complications, then the duration of this stage is from 7 to 9 days in children and from 10 to 16 days in adults.
- Extinction period. The extinction period is characterized by the gradual disappearance of symptoms and normal temperature bodies. Clinically, it can be difficult to distinguish it from a period of specific manifestations. In children, these stages of the disease are often combined. In adults, the period of extinction is characteristic mainly of a complicated course of mumps. Its duration depends on what kind of complication was observed in a particular patient.
- Recovery period. During the recovery period, the patient no longer suffers from the disease itself, but may experience some difficulties due to residual effects. The recovery period ends with the normalization of all tests and vital signs ( blood test, cerebrospinal fluid test for serous meningitis). Patients do not consider this period to be the total duration of the disease, since there are no acute symptoms.
Recovery may be delayed if any complications of mumps occur. Complications of this disease are considered to be any manifestations of the disease other than damage to the salivary glands. Treatment of such forms usually takes longer and is carried out in a hospital setting.
Possible complications with mumps are:
- orchitis ( inflammation of the testicles in men);
- oophoritis ( inflammation of the ovaries in women);
- pancreatitis ( inflammation of the pancreas);
- serous meningitis or meningoencephalitis ( damage to the membranes of the brain);
- dacryoadenitis ( inflammation of the lacrimal glands);
- thyroiditis ( inflammation of the thyroid gland);
- arthritis ( joint inflammation);
- labyrinthitis ( inflammation of the inner ear);
- mastitis ( inflammation of the mammary gland, more common in women, but also possible in men);
- prostatitis ( inflammation of the prostate gland in men).
What do patients with mumps look like?
Mumps or mumps has a number of distinctive symptoms that can be noticed by ordinary people without visiting a doctor. Knowing these manifestations of the disease can help parents suspect mumps earlier and consult a doctor for a more detailed examination.In the initial stages of the disease ( during the prodromal period) people with mumps resemble ordinary people with a cold. The mucous membrane of the throat gradually turns red, and there may be slight discharge from the nose. In this case, general weakness, moderate headaches, nausea, and sweating are noted. In general, it is possible to suspect the disease and not come into close contact with such people. It is important that it is at this stage that patients already secrete significant amount viral particles and pose a threat of infection.
The appearance of specific symptoms helps to suspect mumps directly. If parents notice such changes in their children, accompanied by an increase in temperature and other general symptoms, you must immediately consult a doctor to diagnose accurate diagnosis. Until this moment, it is advisable to isolate the child at home.
Distinctive features of a patient with mumps
| Characteristic symptom | Danger of infection | Type of patient |
| Swelling in the area of the salivary glands | Swelling in the area of the salivary glands appears in the first days of the acute course of the disease. The patient is especially contagious during this period and should be isolated. Contact with the patient is allowed only 8–9 days after the onset of this symptom. |  |
| Redness of the oral mucosa | Redness of the mucous membrane of the mouth and throat is most often observed during the acute period of the disease, so the patient is highly likely to be contagious and pose a danger to others. A distinctive feature from sore throat is that the redness extends to the mucous membrane of the oral cavity ( inner cheeks). Particularly pronounced red spots form at the exit site oral cavity ducts of the salivary glands ( Mursu's sign). |  |
| Testicular enlargement | Enlargement of the testicle or both testicles usually occurs with orchitis. Swelling can reach significant sizes, causing dull pain and preventing a person from moving ( pain gets worse when walking). During this period of time, the patient, as a rule, no longer poses a risk of infection. |  |
With timely initiation of treatment, mumps goes away quickly enough without leaving serious consequences.
