Take Care Your Child from Mumps
Mumps is a viral infection of the parotid gland, a gland which produces saliva and is located in front of and below each ear. If your child has mumps, he or she was exposed to another person with mumps 16 to 18 days earlier.
Mumps is a disease caused by a virus that usually spreads through saliva and can infect many parts of the body, especially the parotid salivary glands. These glands, which produce saliva for the mouth, are found toward the back of each cheek, in the area between the ear and jaw. In cases of mumps, these glands typically swell and become painful.
With mumps your child will have:
• a swollen parotid gland in front of the ear and crossing the corner of the jaw (both parotid glands are swollen in 70% of children)
• tenderness of the swollen gland
• increased pain when chewing
• fever over 100°F (37.8°C).
The disease has been recognized for several centuries, and medical historians argue over whether the name “mumps” comes from an old word for “lump” or an old word for “mumble.”
The mumps virus is contagious and spreads in tiny drops of fluid from the mouth and nose of someone who is infected. It can be passed to others through sneezing, coughing, or even laughing. The virus can also spread to other people through direct contact, such as picking up tissues or using drinking glasses that have been used by the infected person.
People who have mumps are most contagious from 2 days before symptoms begin to 6 days after they end. The virus can also spread from people who are infected but have no symptoms.
Give acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil). Cold compresses applied to the swollen area may also relieve pain. Avoid sour foods or citrus fruits that increase saliva production and parotid swelling. Avoid foods that require lots of chewing. Consider a liquid diet if chewing is very painful.
Because mumps can also involve the brain and its membranes, call the doctor immediately if your child has any of the following: stiff neck, convulsions (seizures), extreme drowsiness, severe headache, or changes of consciousness. Watch for abdominal pain that can mean involvement of the pancreas in either sex or involvement of the ovaries in girls. In boys, watch for high fever with pain and swelling of the testicles.