Symptoms Of Mumps
The Symptoms Of Mumps In Children
Symptoms Mumps In Children
The mumps virus enters your body through the nose and throat. You may start to feel symptomsas
the virus multiplies and spreads to the brain and the membranes that cover it, to the glands (usually the salivary glands), pancreas, testicles, ovaries, and to other areas of the body.Symptoms usually last about 10 days and may include:
- Swelling and pain in one or more of the salivary glands camera. One or both cheeks may look swollen. Many people consider swollen parotid glands camera to be a classic sign of mumps, but this symptom can also develop with other conditions.
- Fever of 101°F (38°C) to 104°F (40°C).
- Headache, earache, sore throat, and pain when swallowing or opening the mouth.
- Pain when eating sour foods or drinking sour liquids, such as citrus fruit or juice.
- Tiredness, with aching in the muscles and joints.
Poor appetite and vomiting.Up to one-third of people who are infected with the mumps virus do not have any symptoms, especially children younger than 2 years.Those who have the illness however may be unaware of their affliction because the symptoms can sometimes be so mild that they are not noticed.
More Symptoms Mumps In Children:
Mumps virus is a single strand of RNA housed inside a two-layered envelope that provides the virus its characteristic immune signature. Only one type of mumps virus has been demonstrated to exist (in contrast to multiple virus types which may cause the common cold).Mumps is highly contagious and has a rapid spread among members living in close quarters. The virus most commonly is spread directly from one person to another via respiratory droplets. Less frequently, the respiratory droplets may land on fomites (sheets, pillows, clothing) and then be transmitted via hand-to-mouth contact after touching such items. The incubation period from exposure to the virus and onset of symptoms is approximately 14-18 days. Viral shedding is short lived and a patient should be isolated from other susceptible individuals for the first five days following the onset of swelling of the salivary (parotid) glands. The first mumps symptoms your child may experience, if any symptoms appear at all, might be a temperature and a decreased appetite. Since a decreased appetite usually goes hand-in-hand with a temperature—and the two can be symptoms of other illnesses
—you probably won’t recognize that your child has mumps immediately. However, if your child starts sporting cheeks that look like pet hamsters, it is a good idea to get him to the doctor for confirmation that he has mumps.
Major Symptoms Mumps In Children:
A fever, stiff neck and headache are possible symptoms of mumps. In addition, loss of appetite, body weakness and fatigue, as well as pain while chewing or swallowing, are other symptoms your child may have with a case of mumps.An infected child could also experience pain and swelling in the facial area, since mumps affects the parotid glands. But other salivary glands, instead of the parotid ones, may be the ones affected. If that happens, the child will likely experience swelling under the tongue, or chin, instead of in the cheeks. There may also be swelling in the chest.
While uncommon, mumps does have the capacity to cause swelling and inflammation elsewhere in the body, especially in the brain and spinal cord. Encephalitis (brain swelling) and meningitis (swelling in the spinal cord and the lining of the brain) can be complications experienced due to mumps, but fortunately these conditions are rare.However, when these areas of the body are affected by mumps, the following symptoms can occur, and generally do so within a week of the child’s first mumps symptoms: drowsiness, convulsions, nausea, vomiting, as well as fever and a headache.Mumps is an infection whose cause is the mumps virus. At risk for contracting the ailment are those persons who have not been immunized by either a previous infection or a vaccination. Primarily as a result of the fact that vaccination has become increasingly popular, the cases of mumps have been on the decline.