Mumps Virus

Mumps virus

        Mumps is an infectious viral disease that affects, especially young children from 4 to 6 years. The mumps virus belongs to the group of paramyxoviruses. The diagnosis is mainly clinical, the use of biological tests is possible only to an atypical form. The diagnosis is based on the detection of virus in saliva, cerebrospinal fluid (collected by lumbar puncture in cases of clinical suspicion of meningeal) and possibly urine. Serology is also in doubt contribute to the diagnosis.

In cases of parotitis:

        Careful palpation of the parotid indicate a firm and elastic texture of the gland and forms incipient pain. The doctor find a reddening of the orifice of Steno and lymph.

In cases of testicular damage:

        The doctor will find on palpation painful swelling in which a testis is seen enlarged.

Mumps virus pictures

Mumps complications

        A teenager and one in five adults suffer from orchitis, infection or inflammation of the testicles. It can be very painful, but it almost never results in sterility. Women can develop an often benign and harmless infection of the ovaries. One in 30 people infected get pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas, accompanied by vomiting and stomach pain. The same number develop hearing problems due to otitis, which is also a temporary side effect.

Mumps treatment

        Because mumps is caused by a virus, there is no medicine to treat them. Only time can heal it. However, it is possible to administer acetaminophen or ibuprofen according to the recommended dosage to relieve headaches and fever, as well as pain caused by inflammation of the parotid glands. Never give acetylsalicylic acid to children with viral infection because in these circumstances can cause serious illness called Reye syndrome.