Mumps, or mumps, as it is popularly called, refers to viral diseases. The body attacks paramyxovirus, which at the onset of the disease manifests itself as normal fever, and then there is an increase in one or two salivary glands. In the process of developing the disease, other organs are also affected, as well as, which is especially dangerous, the central nervous system. In the article we will try to analyze in detail what mumps in children is, symptoms and treatment, disease prevention and many other aspects of it.
A bit of history
Even 400 years before our era, Hippocrates described mumps and distinguished it as a special nosological unit. Further research on this disease was carried out only in the eighteenth century. And for a long time, mumps was considered as a lesion exclusively of the salivary glands without any complications. And only in 1849, the scientist A. Romanovsky found out that this virus also affects the central nervous system. But another scientist, Filatov, considered mumps a viral disease, and developed its activities in the direction of lesions of the sex glands. For several decades, he actively studied the symptoms, areas of damage and methods of infection with mumps Troitsky, who was able to find out almost everything about this disease. We use his achievements in modern medicine.
Description
The disease can be transmitted exclusively from person to person. Moreover, not only a patient with an open form can infect you, but also just a virus carrier. A person is considered especially dangerous within one or two days from the moment of his infection and until the onset of the first symptoms of the disease. And also the first five days from the onset of the disease, you can catch an infection. As soon as the patient's symptoms begin to disappear, then for healthy people, he becomes absolutely safe.
The human body is quite susceptible to this infection. You can get infected by airborne droplets, but no one excludes the possibility of catching the disease through common objects, such as toys.
Mumps (mumps) symptoms in children appear much more often than in adults. And also interesting is the fact that girls get sick much less often than boys. In addition, the disease is seasonal and its peak falls in March-April, and the least number of visits to specialists is observed in August-September.
Almost 90% of adults have antibodies to the virus, which can only mean one thing - the disease is quite common.
Why do children get sick?
There are several factors that have a very strong effect on the spread of the disease. These factors must be mentioned:
- The disease is seasonal and reaches its peak in spring. It is during this period that the children's body is extremely weakened after winter and is in great need of vitamins.
- Many mothers began to refuse vaccination, which threatens not only their own health, but also the health of other children.
- The child may have reduced immunity. This happens not only because spring has come, perhaps the baby was sick for a long time, took antibiotics, which have no benefit for the young body. In addition, the presence of chronic diseases greatly affects.
- Neglect of patient quarantine during illness.
- Parents of preschool children and primary school children should be on the alert, since in 90% of cases the disease is childhood.
How does the disease go?
Consider mumps in children, the symptoms and treatment of the disease should begin with how the virus enters the body, and what happens thereafter. So, the virus will pass through the mucosa of the upper respiratory tract, it is possible that this can happen through the tonsils. Further, in a hematogenous way, the pathogen penetrates the salivary glands and calmly spreads throughout the body. He will choose for himself the most optimal breeding conditions. In most cases, the central nervous system and glandular organs become such a place.
It is interesting that the nervous system is affected much earlier, even before the pathogen enters the salivary glands, the same applies to glandular organs. But in medical practice there have been cases when this did not happen at all.
in the process of the development of the disease, the body begins to actively produce antibodies that can be found in the blood for several years. And also there is an allergic restructuring of the body, which can persist for the rest of your life.
Light form
Symptoms of mumps in children (pictured) at the initial stage: a sharp increase in body temperature, and then its sharp decline. At this time, only the salivary glands of the body are affected.
Moderate form
The fever in the child is quite long. Now, following the salivary glands, other glandular organs are also affected. In children, there is a loss of appetite, general weakness, poor sleep.
Heavy form
This is the stage when damage to the central nervous system is possible. Everything happens so fast that the count goes literally on the clock. The result of this form of the disease can be meningitis. And also there are various complications: deafness, pancreatitis.
Often in children, mumps occurs in a mild form and does not have any serious complications, however, cases where it becomes a serious threat to health are not excluded. So, mumps can develop into the following diseases:
- Pancreatitis It occurs in cases when the pancreas is affected by the virus and some structural changes occur there.
- Orchitis. One of the most serious consequences is testicular damage. It happens in boys who were not vaccinated in childhood. If the disease process takes place in an extremely severe form, it can cover two testicles at once, which quite often leads to infertility. And it is already impossible to cure.
- Diabetes. During mumps, insulin production may be impaired in the body, which, in turn, leads to the development of type 1 diabetes.
- Oophorit. This disease is characteristic of adolescent girls when their ovaries become inflamed. This complication is extremely rare and, as a rule, does not lead to infertility.
- Thyroiditis. It is extremely rare - this is a lesion of the thyroid gland. However, if it occurs, it leads to an autoimmune process.
- Meningitis. If adequate therapy is carried out, then the disease is completely treatable and the child can continue a quiet life.
- Labyrinthitis. Since the salivary glands swell around the ears, this can lead to damage to the ear nerve. In most cases, with a decrease in edema, this complication also disappears, however, if this does not happen, then complete deafness may occur.
- Arthritis. When the virus infects several large joints at once.
Symptomatology
Symptoms of mumps (mumps) in children (photo in the article) at the very beginning of the disease may look like a common cold. In the beginning, the body temperature rises, a little chills begins, the baby feels pain in the muscles and joints. But within a few days, the inflammatory process begins in the salivary glands. Next, we will consider in more detail the symptoms of mumps in children (we can not provide a photo of the rash for aesthetic reasons):
- During an increase in temperature, its performance can reach forty degrees. And so it can last about a week. Then, after a drop in temperature, a new rise in temperature can be observed in a few days, but not at such high rates. This can only mean one thing - new lesions.
- The parotid salivary glands greatly enlarge, hurt and swell. The earlobes are directed in different directions, and the face swells so that it resembles a mump in shape, from where the second name of the disease originated. This symptom manifests itself only with mumps, so it is quite difficult to confuse it with any other virus.
- Puffiness develops, it becomes painful for the child to speak and chew. Edema lasts about ten days, but as soon as it starts to go away, the pain gradually recedes.
- Changing the fit of the head. Since it is painful for the child to move his head, he tilts it to the side where the swelling formed, and if there are two, he draws his head slightly to his shoulders.
There are several additional symptoms of mumps in children (you could familiarize yourself with the photo earlier):
- Chills are observed throughout the body.
- There is a general weakness.
- The appetite is severely impaired, mainly due to pain.
- Severe dry mouth appears.
- Sweating increases.
- The child is tormented by headaches.
- Sleep is disturbed.
Diagnostics
Symptoms of mumps in children help to quickly and accurately diagnose. When contacting a patient, the doctor first of all listens to all his complaints, studies the anamnesis and examines. In case of emergency, such tests are prescribed as: a virological examination of blood and saliva, as well as a serological blood test.
If you suspect that your child has mumps, then you need to see an infectious disease doctor. If there are complications, he may refer you to an endocrinologist, otorhinolaryngologist, neuropathologist or rheumatologist. Another specialist is appointed depending on the nature of the additional symptoms or the presence of chronic diseases in a particular area. And these specialists often prescribe additional tests and studies.
Treatment
Treatment of mumps in children (symptoms, photo - in the article) does not have a single algorithm of actions aimed at getting rid of the virus. Doctors are faced with the task of at least slightly alleviating the suffering of the patient and preventing the development of various complications, which may well be. So, the right treatment takes place in three stages:
- proper child care;
- dieting;
- taking medications that were prescribed by the doctor.
The task of parents during this period is to immediately isolate the child if they notice the onset of inflammation of the salivary glands. Regarding the features of child care:
- Compliance with bed rest. Until the main symptoms disappear, and this is approximately ten days, the child should be in bed.
- It is impossible to prevent hypothermia of the baby. Protect it from physical, mental and emotional stress.
- Ventilate the patient’s room regularly. So that the concentration of the virus in the room is gradually reduced.
- It is recommended to enter a mask mode so that the infection does not spread.
- Prepare a separate towel and separate dishes for the baby so that only he can use these items.
As for diet food, in order to avoid pancreatitis, doctors prescribe a diet at number five. She is very simple:
- On a day, a child can eat no more than five, but at least four times.
- Calorie intake should be at the lowest level.
- A child should drink one and a half liters of water per day, even more can be.
It is necessary to completely exclude from the menu: fresh bread, any kinds of legumes, canned foods, chocolate, fried and smoked dishes, fatty meat, radishes, onions and garlic, as well as hot seasonings. In more detail about the lists of allowed and prohibited products can tell only the attending physician.
All of the above activities answer the question: how to treat the symptoms of mumps in children with parents? But what is required from the doctor. Doctors primarily prescribe good antipyretic drugs, since the temperature rises quite high, as well as vitamins, painkillers, and immune preparations. If, in addition to the salivary glands, the pancreas was also affected, then a strict diet must be observed, analgesics and antispasmodics are prescribed. If the form of the disease is severe, then drugs will be required that will be aimed at suppressing the activity of the gland. Perhaps a violation of the digestion of food, in such cases, medications with enzymes and those that can restore the intestinal microflora are prescribed. If you suspect meningitis, immediate hospitalization in the intensive care unit is needed.
Prevention
The best prevention of mumps in children (symptoms and treatment are discussed in the article) for all times remains vaccination, but, unfortunately, many modern mothers neglect this method, which puts their child’s health at risk. Today, there are several different vaccines that are absolutely safe for children. During vaccination, the antigen is introduced into the body and after a short period of time antibodies begin to be produced in the blood. Thus, the vaccinated child is almost one hundred percent protected from this disease. Most often, doctors use the combined vaccine for mumps, rubella and measles, which is done first in one year, and then again repeated in six years.
Some parents worry that mumps can affect fertility. Yes, such complications are observed, and mainly in boys who have not been vaccinated in childhood. But such cases are extremely rare, more often in children the disease is mild and, in addition to the salivary glands, does not affect anything else.
Mumps is very dangerous for pregnant women. And especially in the first three months. It has long been established that at such a time a miscarriage or freezing of the fetus can occur. At later dates, mumps does not carry such a danger, but hemolytic jaundice in a newborn can be provoked.
Based on everything, it is difficult to say how dangerous mumps in children is. Symptoms in primary school children and preschool children are usually not very pronounced. The disease is mild and almost without complications. There is only a parotid tumor. In older children, mumps are fraught with consequences. Why does the disease arise? Because many mothers do not want to vaccinate their children. There is no need to refuse mandatory vaccinations, especially since the symptoms of mumps in children after vaccination do not occur throughout life. They will secure life not only for you and your child, but also for people who are in your environment. It is enough to imagine what can happen if about ten children who have not been vaccinated gather in one audience and one of them is already sick with mumps. Almost each of them is guaranteed mumps, and it is not known how easily the disease will pass in each of them. Indeed, for five people, everything can end safely, and the sixth will remain disabled for life. Do not be afraid of vaccination, but be afraid of the consequences of its absence.