Treatment for Mumps

By: medical-advisor

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Mumps is a viral infection that was common in children before routine immunization. The incubation period is 2-3 weeks. The illness usually starts with a fever, headache, and muscle aches. These are usually followed by swelling on one or both sides of the face and neck of the parotid salivary glands, which are just in front of and below the ears. Talking, eating, and drinking may be painful. Mumps is usually mild in children, but teenagers and adults may develop potentially serious complications.

Warning: Contact your doctor urgently if severe headache and dislike of bright light or vomiting, seizures, or excessive drowsiness.

Make an appointment to see your doctor to confirm mumps and check for complications.

Treatment for Mumps

There is no specific treatment for mumps, but you can make yourself or your child more comfortable.

1. Rest until symptoms begin to ease.
2. A warm compress, such as a face flannel soaked in warm water, applied to the side of the face, can help to relieve pain in swollen glands.
3. Drink plenty of fluids, but avoid acidic fruit juices because they stimulate saliva and may make the enlarged glands more painful. Use a straw if opening the mouth is painful.
4. Have soups, yoghurt and other soft, bland food that is easy to swallow.
5. A painkiller will help reduce fever and relieve aches and pains.
6. If mumps affects the testicles, stay in bed and wear supportive clothing, such as two pairs of close-fitting underpants, until symptoms ease.
7. If there are no complications, a child can usually go back to school, or an adult return to work, 5 days after the onset of the illness. However, full recovery can take 1-2 weeks.

Drug Treatment for Mumps

Painkillers will bring down a fever and relieve muscle aches and the pain of swollen glands.

1. For a child, give paracetamol. This drug is available in various forms, such as liquid medicine, soluble tablets, or melt-in-the-mouth tablets. Your pharmacist will advise you which type is most suitable for your child.
2. Adults can take paracetamol or ibuprofen.

Preventing Mumps

Immunization to protect against mumps is given as part of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine. Make sure your child is immunized.

 Arrange to see your doctor if you or your child develops pain in the abdomen/chest  or swelling and pain in the testicles.

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