Mumps : Cases Rise In The States Of Maharashtra
Mumps cases in children are on rise in the states of Maharashtra and Telangana which has become a cause of concern for parents.
- Mumps is a contagious disease caused by a paramyxovirus.
- It can cause the parotid glands, the ones on each side of the face to swell and they may also be tender or painful.
- It is an acute disease which infects children and young adults.
- Humans are the only known host for mumps virus, which is spread via direct contact or by airborne droplets from the upper respiratory tract of infected individuals.
- After an incubation period of some 2 to 4 weeks mumps begins with non-specific symptoms such as myalgia, headache, malaise and low-grade fever.
- Within days, these symptoms are followed by unilateral or bilateral swelling of the parotid salivary glands, with other salivary glands affected in 10% of cases.
- Normally mumps is a mild, self-limiting disease and disappears without sequelae.
- Complications may occur such as encephalitis or sensorineural deafness.
- Orchitis (a painful inflammation of the testes) occurs in 20% of young adult males who develop mumps.
- There is no specific treatment for mumps.
- The various symptoms may be relieved with medicines.
