Mumps - Medtick
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Mumps

What is it?

A highly infectious viral condition that affects the salivary glands and can spread like a normal cold.

  • The disease lasts between 5 to 6 days.
  • Once a person infected most develop immunity from further infection.
  • One third of people develop no symptoms.
  • The incubation period (the time from getting the infection to having symptoms) for mumps is about two to three weeks.
Mumps is most contagious for 6 days before onset of symptoms and for five days afterwards
  • Mumps is caused by neurotrophic virus, which means that it has a tendency to travel to the nervous system, if left untreated it can cause meningitis symptoms and/or encephalitis.

Countries affected are:

North America

  • United States of America (Alaska, Hawaii, Oahu, Maui)

Europe & Russia

  • Ireland
  • United Kingdom

Australasia and Pacific

  • Australia
  • New Zealand
Ibuprofen and other NSAIDs can be used under medical supervision, however Ibuprofen and other NSAIDs is not recommended in asthma or asthma type symptoms. Check with your Medical doctor/Pharmacist when one can have any type of fever reducing medication to make sure it suitable for you.

Cause

  • Virus: Paramyxoviruses
  • Direct contact:
    • If infected person is of close proximity, talking, sneezes, cough, kissing and one breathes the virus in.
  • Indirect contact:
    • Virus is on surface and another touches the surface and then touch their mouth or nose.
    • Sharing utensils and towels

Symptoms

(symptoms can vary)

  • Swollen (parotid) glands on one side or both sides of face giving a ‘hamster face’ appearance (Swelling can be up to eight days and occurs most at first 2-3 days then decreases and temperature decreases too)?
  • Pain when chewing and swallowing?
  • Ear pain?
  • Sore throat longer than seven days or more?
  • High temperature greater than 38°C (100°F) or over and/or chills and sweats longer than 72 hours?
  • General discomfort (muscle weakness), uneasiness or ill feeling (malaise) and/or fatigue (tiredness)?
  • Dry mouth?
  • Headache which is on and off or a constant headache longer than 24 hours?
  • Aching, painful muscles, muscle cramps/spasms/stiffness?

Nail changes:

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

Do not wait, phone for an ambulance if have or develop:

This condition can lead to:

  • Hearing loss

Male only:

  • Swollen testicles (usually one infected, occurs up to four 4- 8 days alter and can be up to six weeks)
    • Pain in testicle
    • Warmth and tender in testicle
    • Shrinkage in testicle
    • Male hypogonadism

Female only:

  • Increased risk of miscarriage if infected in the first trimester of pregnancy
  • Swollen ovaries:
    • Abdominal pain and/or are constant violently vomiting or vomiting longer than two days (one day if a child).
    • High temperature greater than 38°C (100°F) or over and/or chills and sweats longer than 72 hours.

General tips

  • Avoid gatherings with friends and family as well as crowded places.
  • Social distancing guide
  • Self isolation guide
  • Coughing and sneezing into tissues and then bin it, if you have no tissue then in the crook (inside)  of your elbow.
  • Do not touch your face with unwashed hands
  • Avoid close contact with infected people (2 meter distance)
  • Do not share towels and utensils, dishes , drinking glasses
  • Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
  • How to wash Hands

This condition may show similar symptoms to:

Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice

Detailed Information

Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Mumps in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).

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