Do you notice something swelling in your face? It may be a mumps symptom. Mumps is an infection caused by a virus. This infection affects the glands that produce saliva. Also, children and adults are at risk of it. Mumps is most common in the United States. Also, vaccination for this disease is already available. Right now, the number of people infected in the U.S. lessened.
Even if vaccines are already available, it is not guaranteed that you will not get this infection. Moreover, mumps symptoms are very easy to identify.
1. Pain and Swelling on Both Sides of Face
Look in the mirror and check your cheeks for swelling and if you feel any pain. For your child, you can see the swelling in his/her face right away.
2. It is Painful to Chew or Swallow
You may have a hard time chewing and swallowing your food. Hence, it is because of the pain that you feel on both sides of your cheeks.
3. Fever
Check your body temperature using a thermometer. It is to see if there is an increase in body temperature. Also, one can experience chills and shivering.
4. Headache
There is aching and tightness across your forehead, on the sides, and back.
5. Muscle Aches
You feel pain and soreness in your muscles.
6. Feeling Weak and Tired
One can experience difficulty in moving the body. It is because you feel weak and tired. Therefore, you will feel like your body is too heavy for you to move.
7. Loss of Appetite
You do not feel any hunger. The desire to eat food is gone.
Possible Causes
The cause of mumps is a virus that spreads from person to person through saliva and close contact. However, it includes sharing utensils or exposure to an infected person’s cough and sneeze.
Children
Mumps in children and adults have the same symptoms, causes, and treatments. However, children are most at risk of the infection. It is because their body is still developing. That is why mumps in children are the most common. Hence, do not let your children be around people who are a carrier of the disease. Also, it is to keep your child safe and healthy. If you think that your child is sick, visit a doctor straight away. The doctor will do a physical examination and saliva tests to confirm the diagnosis.
For children, this disease’s treatment depends on your child’s symptoms, age, and health. However, antibiotics are not an option to treat this illness. It is important always to ask your child’s doctor. For instance, the risk, benefits, and side effects of all the medicines are the information you need.
Important Note
Since this disease can transfer from one person to another, it is important to keep these things in mind.
- It is vital to keep your child out of school or daycare until the symptoms are gone.
- Therefore, wash your hands often before and after touching your child.
- Also, make sure that other family members also wash their hands.
- Practice your child to cover his/her mouth while sneezing or coughing.
- Clean toys and areas in your house with a disinfectant.
There are common complications associated with mumps.
- It includes inflammation of the membrane that covers the brain and spinal cord.
- Inflammation of the breast tissue.
- Deafness
- Inflammation of one or both ovaries
- The swelling of one or both testicles.
- Inflammation of the pancreas
Adults
These complications are most common to happen in adults. Mumps in adults is very dangerous and life-threatening if not treated right away.
The prevention of mumps in adults is possible. It is by having yourself vaccinated to lessen the risk of having mumps. For adults, there will be a physical examination, saliva, blood, and urine tests to know if you carry the virus. The treatments for it are medicines for pain and by drinking plenty of water. It is better to rest during the first few days of infection. Doctors tell adults to stay at home for five days after the swelling has healed. Avoid having close contact with other people In and out of your house. It is important to wash your hands and cover your nose and mouth every time you sneeze or cough.
If you become positive for mumps, be responsible so you will not spread the virus to other people. As much as possible, isolate yourself until the illness is gone. Above all, protect not only yourself but also your family.
