These are the symptoms of mumps!

Mumps, which we often call mumps, can occur throughout the year. Once contracted, patients will show symptoms such as fever, chills, headache, myalgia, sore throat, poor appetite, nausea, vomiting, and general discomfort.

1. Cause

Mumps virus belongs to the family Paramyxoviridae. The virus is spherical with a diameter of 100 to 200 microns. The spore membrane contains neuraminidase, hemagglutinin and F protein with cell fusion function. The virus has only one serotype and has a mild cross-reaction with the parainfluenza virus because it shares common antigens with the parainfluenza virus. The virus can be isolated from the saliva, cerebrospinal fluid, blood, urine, brain tissue and other tissues of the children.

2. Clinical manifestations

The incubation period ranges from 8 to 30 days, with an average of 18 days. The onset is usually acute, with no prodromal symptoms. Symptoms include fever, chills, headache, myalgia, sore throat, poor appetite, nausea, vomiting, general discomfort, etc. The parotid glands become swollen and painful over several hours and gradually become more obvious. The body temperature may reach above 39°C.

Parotid swelling and pain is the most characteristic. It is usually centered on the earlobe, spreading forward, backward, and downward in a pear-shaped shape with unclear edges; the local skin is tense, shiny but not red, tough and elastic to the touch, and painful to the touch. Opening the mouth and chewing (especially acidic food) stimulates saliva secretion, causing the pain to worsen; usually swelling of one side will affect the opposite side 1 to 4 days later, and bilateral swelling accounts for about 75% of cases. The submandibular or sublingual glands may also be involved simultaneously. In 10% to 15% of children, only the submandibular gland is affected, and sublingual gland infection is the least common. In severe cases, the tissues around the parotid glands are severely edematous, causing facial distortion and difficulty in swallowing. There may be redness and swelling at the opening of the parotid duct in the early stage, and no purulent secretions will overflow from the opening when the parotid gland is squeezed. The pharynx and soft palate may be swollen, and the tonsils may move toward the midline. Parotid gland swelling usually reaches its peak in 3 to 5 days and gradually subsides and returns to normal in 7 to 10 days. When the parotid gland is swollen, the body temperature usually rises to moderate fever, which returns to normal in about 5 days. The course of the disease is 10 to 14 days.