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What is Epidemic Parotitis?
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If you have looked at the record sheet of immunization vaccines
received, you are bound to come across one entry - MMR. The
abbreviation MMR stands for mumps, measles and rubella. The term we
are talking about, epidemic parotid, refers to mumps.
Mumps is a highly contagious disease that can occur as an epidemic.
It generally affects the salivary gland parotid. Because of these
two factors, mumps is referred to as epidemic parotitis.
Is mumps caused by a virus or bacteria?
Mumps is an infectious disease caused by a virus and not a
bacterium. Usually, only one antigenic type of virus causes mumps.
Therefore, one attack of mumps makes a patient immune to further
attacks. The disease usually attacks children in the age group five
to fifteen. However, it cannot be said with certainty that mumps
will not affect people in other age groups. |
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Other glands that may be affected
The disease is characterized by a swelling of the salivary gland. In
very rare cases, the pancreas, meninges or the sex glands are
affected. There may occur an occasional swelling and tenderness in
other glands. When other glands do get affected, the conditions are
referred to as orchitis (which affects males), mastitis and
oophoritis (affecting females), or meningoencephalitis (inflammation
of the brain and its membranous covering), depending on the part
infected. These are generally not serious conditions and the
symptoms remain for a short duration only. In the case of meningoencephalitis, which is a concomitant of mumps, chances of
returning to normal are very bright.
The parotid glands
As mentioned earlier, mumps mainly attacks the salivary glands, more
specifically the parotid. The salivary glands are those that secrete
the alkaline fluid saliva, which softens food and thereby helps
digestion. The parotid glands are located in front of each ear. The
saliva that it produces contains an enzyme called amylase, which
helps in the digestion of carbohydrates.
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Symptoms
Early symptoms of mumps include a mild fever, a general feeling
of not well, chilliness and a dryness of the throat. There is
also a drop in the appetite. Gradually, there sets in a rise in
the body temperature (high fever) and the patient experiences
soreness of the throat. There is also stiffening in the region
of the parotid salivary gland in front of the ear. One can
notice swelling around the ears. The swelling may quickly
increase and spread to the neck and beneath the jaw. Normally,
swelling occurs on both sides of the face. The patient will have
difficulty chewing and swallowing. However, pain is seldom
severe. Redness of the swollen area and discharge of pus are
unlikely. The affected parts usually return to normal within
four or five days.
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A child suffering from mumps |
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Treatment
There is no special treatment for mumps. Considering that it is
an acutely contagious disease, patients are usually quarantined.
Even those who are exposed to carriers and who have not yet
begun to show symptoms are sometimes quarantined. Usually, an
attack is very mild but a patient nevertheless acquires lifelong
immunity to the disease.
Preventive vaccine
Mumps can, however, be prevented. A preventive vaccine made from
attenuated or weakened live mumps virus is used. |
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