Mumps

What You Should Know about Mumps

The mumps is an infection that has a major affect on the parotid glands. Most people don’t realize that the mumps is a viral infection. Parotid glands are glands that are responsible for salivation. You’re not alone if you don’t know where these glands are located. In fact, most people are probably not aware that the parotid glands are located below as well as in front of each ear. Contract of the mumps usually results in swelling of these glands near the ears. Not all cases of the mumps are life threatening are serious. Some complications of the mumps can be serious though and even life threatening.

Most life threatening cases of the mumps no longer exist because of the mumps vaccine that was developed in the 1960s. Ever since the 1960s significantly fewer people have died from the mumps. Many people think getting a mumps vaccination is unimportant since most people have one. Even though the disease is not as strong you can still come down with mumps. For this reason every person should get a mumps vaccination to ensure that they do not come down with the illness.

Only about twenty percent of all people that have mumps actually show symptoms within the first few weeks.

Mumps Symptoms

When people do display symptoms of the mumps there are common symptoms that develop. These common symptoms include swollen glands, pain when eating, fever, as well as weakness and fatigue. The most common of these symptoms is swollen salivary glands. This causes the cheeks to look extremely puffy. This main symptom is the cause of the nickname “the mumps.”

The mumps is a virus that is easily spread through the exchange of infected saliva. You can easily contract the mumps by kissing a person that has the disease. You can also get the disease by breathing in saliva droplets from someone that has coughed. Mumps can be a disease that is extremely contagious; almost as contagious as the flu.

Mumps Treatment

If you think yourself or your child has a case of the mumps you should seek medical attention at a doctor’s office immediately. Not all cases of the mumps are serious, but if you wait too long your case could become serious. If in fact you or your child does have the mumps, the key is to remain calm and not panic. If you have access to medical help, the illness is not usually lethal. The best way to protect yourself is by going to a doctor as soon as you come down with symptoms of the illness. Your doctor will be able to help you determine the best possible course of treatment for your condition.