Mumps, also known as mumps, commonly known as "pig-head madness" and "on the ear wind", is an acute respiratory infection caused by the mumps virus, which can complicated by meningitis and pancreatitis.
Mumps is often prevalent in kindergartens and primary schools. Inhalation of mumps virus droplets is the main route of transmission. The main source of infection is children with mumps virus or invisible infected people who have been infected with mumps virus but have not become ill.
The disease can occur all year round, there are generally two epidemic peaks, April to July for the first peak, October to January for the next peak.
The clinical manifestations of mumps are: the incubation period is 14-21 days, during which there is no symptom; The prodromal stage lasted for 1-2 days, and some children showed chills, fever, headache, sore throat, poor appetite, nausea, vomiting, and general pain. The symptoms are obvious, there is swelling under one or both earlobes, the enlarged parotid gland is often hemispherical, centered on the earlobe, the edge is not clear, the surface is warm but not red, there is tenderness, and local pain when opening the mouth or chewing.
The parotid duct opening is red and swollen, but there is no discharge of pus from the compressed gland. The swelling of the parotid gland is most obvious 1-3 days after the onset, and gradually subsides after about 2 weeks, and the swelling completely subsides, accompanied by fever, headache and poor appetite and other systemic symptoms.
Mumps can have a variety of neurological and reproductive complications, including encephalitis, meningitis, encephalomyelitis, orchitis or ovaritis, and is more common in boys than girls.
There are also sensorial deafness, pancreatitis, nephritis, myocarditis and so on. But mumps is also a preventable disease that can be effectively prevented by doing the following.
- Get vaccinated.
Children should receive one shot at one and a half years of age and one at six years of age. Children under the age of 15 can be vaccinated.
- Avoid crowded places.
Children with poor physical resistance should go to crowded public places as little as possible, and wear masks when going out.
- Practice good personal hygiene.
Children should pay attention to personal hygiene, wash hands frequently, ventilation at home, dry clothes and bedding frequently, and usually add more water.
- Be physically active.
Children should actively participate in physical exercise and bask in the sun, which can promote the body's blood circulation and improve immunity.
- Detect illness in time.
If the child is found to have fever, headache, loss of appetite, parotid gland swelling and other suspected mumps symptoms, should go to the hospital in time.
- Isolate the child.
If a child has mumps, keep them away from healthy children to prevent infection. Children's used utensils, towels, etc. should be boiled and disinfected, and the room should be ventilated frequently.
