Mumps and its complications

(Baonghean)Mumps is an acute viral infection. When infected with the virus, most patients feel uncomfortable 1-2 days before symptoms appear. Patients have a high fever (39-40 degrees Celsius) for 3-4 days, drooling and swollen cheeks (may swell on one side of the face and then spread to the other side or both sides at the same time), causing pain when swallowing saliva. After that, the child has a dry mouth because the salivary glands have stopped working.

Mumps is mainly treated at home. When children show signs of mumps, parents need to take them to the doctor for a definitive diagnosis. If it is mumps, the doctor will instruct parents on how to care for their children at home:

- Reduce fever by wiping the child's body with warm water (not cold water). Paracetamol can be given to reduce fever and relieve pain.

- Drink plenty of water and rinse mouth with saline solution or mouthwash sold at pharmacies to prevent dry mouth.

- Feed the child with liquid food or with a straw (if the child has difficulty swallowing).

- Lay the child in bed with a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel to apply to the painful cheek.

- Do not let children run and jump because these activities can easily lead to complications in the testicles.

- Children should be taken to the hospital immediately if there are signs of complications.

Prevention: Mumps is caused by a virus so there is no specific treatment, infected cases must rest in place, eat soft, easy-to-swallow foods. When infected, the respiratory tract must be isolated, the patient must be isolated for about 9 days from the time the symptoms of swelling in the ear appear. Children with the disease must not go to school, because this will be a source of infection for other children.

Sick adults should be isolated in a separate room like children. Objects that come into contact with nasal and throat secretions should be thoroughly disinfected.

Thu Ha (synthesis)