Mumps is a contagious viral infection that was once widespread among children before the MMR vaccine was introduced.
Mumps signs and symptoms
The painful swellings in the side of the face under the ears (the parotid glands) give a person with mumps a distinguishing "hamster face" appearance.
Mumps have enlarged the lower part of the child's face and neck on the right side. On a white background. Other mumps symptoms include headaches, joint pain, and a high temperature, which might appear a few days before the parotid glands expand.
The spread of mumps
Mumps is transmitted through infectious droplets of saliva that can be breathed or picked up from surfaces and transported into the mouth or nose, much like colds and flu.
A person's contagious period is a few days before and after the onset of symptoms.
It's critical to keep the virus from spreading to others during this time, especially to unvaccinated teenagers and young adults.
If you have mumps, you can assist to keep the disease from spreading by doing the following:
avoiding school or work for at least 5 days after your symptoms first appear, routinely washing your hands with soap and using and discarding tissues after you sneeze .
Mumps can be prevented by giving your child the combined MMR vaccine, which protects them against mumps, measles, and rubella.
The MMR vaccination is included in the NHS's normal pediatric immunization program.
Your kid should receive one dose around the age of 12 to 13 months, followed by a second booster dose around the age of 3 years and 4 months.
The vaccine gives roughly 88 percent protection against mumps if both doses are given.
Anyone who did not receive both doses of the MMR vaccine as a child should speak with their doctor about becoming vaccinated.
Mumps and their treatment
Mumps has no cure at the moment, although the infection should go away in a week or two.
The following treatments are used to alleviate symptoms:
applying a warm or cool compress to the swollen glands to help relieve pain using medications, such as ibuprofen and paracetamol - aspirin should not be given to children under the age of 16
Complications
Mumps is a contagious disease that normally passes without producing major health problems. Serious side effects are uncommon.
Mumps, on the other hand, can cause viral meningitis if the virus spreads to the brain's outer layer.
Swelling of the testicles or ovaries is another problem (if the affected person has gone through puberty).
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