Mumps disease.Surely, absolutely everyone knows about this disease with such a funny name. However, few people clearly imagine the process of this disease, as well as all the consequences that mumps can entail. Let's try to learn more about this disease together and how to reduce the likelihood of developing such complications to a minimum. And we will begin our story by saying that mumps is a name used in common parlance. In official medicine, it is called "epidemic parotitis". This disease has an infectious nature of occurrence and is characterized by severe damage to the salivary parotid glands. Because of this damage, the patient's face swells, resembling the snout of an animal, in honor of which this disease was popularly called "mumps".

The course and symptoms of the disease

Like any other infectious disease,mumps has its own incubation period. As a rule, it is on average twenty-one days. However, quite rarely, but still there are cases of atypical disease - in these cases, the incubation period is extremely short and lasts no more than one or two days. Remember that the sick person, usually a child, is extremely dangerous to others during this incubation period, as he is a source of infection. The disease is quite typical, and has pronounced and easily recognizable symptoms. These include:

• Deterioration of general well-being

As with any disease, the patient's conditionThe child's condition worsens greatly with this disease - he may start to be capricious, sleep all the time or, on the contrary, be extremely excited. Parents should not leave such a condition of the child without due attention.

• Increased body temperature

Typically, immediately afterthe incubation period ends, the sick child's temperature rises. Most often, it fluctuates between 38 and 39 degrees, but in particularly severe cases, the body temperature may rise to 40 degrees.

• Swollen glands

Approximately on the second day after the increasebody temperature, the sick child may begin to complain of pain in the dimples behind the ears and neck area. As a rule, the pain appears first only on one side, and then on the other. About a day later, swelling of the glands will appear in the same sequence. These swellings have a doughy consistency to the touch, and are very painful when palpated (probed) - as a rule, the child rarely allows the glands to be palpated calmly. In addition, painful sensations are noted when swallowing, chewing, and even simply opening the mouth. All this brings a lot of unpleasant sensations to the sick child. Another distinctive sign that the child is sick with mumps is the very specific skin in the area of ​​​​the tumors - it is reddened, very smooth and shiny. The tumor gradually increases in size over about five days. As a result, the entire cheek swells, or even both. And only after that does the swelling begin to subside. However, please note that it will not completely disappear until the tenth day of the disease. Around the same time, the child's body temperature returns to normal, and his general health improves. As mentioned above, this disease in some cases can lead to a number of specific complications. Mumps disease: the consequences can be such as inflammatory processes affecting the meninges, gray matter of the brain, pathological lesions of the middle ear. In boys, complications can affect the reproductive system.

Treatment and care of patients

However, there is no need to panic, because practicallyIn all cases, complications arise as a result of improper care of the sick child. That is why doctors constantly remind parents of the need to carefully follow all recommendations for caring for a child with mumps. These recommendations are quite simple:

• Separate room for a sick child

Ideally, a sick child needsprovide a separate room, especially if there are other children in the family. This disease is extremely contagious. That is why a sick child should have separate dishes and towels, as well as other hygiene items. Although, in principle, a healthy child should have them too.

• Bed rest

The child at the first signs of illnessmust immediately go to bed. And he must remain there until he is fully recovered. Of course, it is very difficult to keep many children in bed - sometimes almost impossible. However, parents will have to make every conceivable, and sometimes inconceivable, effort. This is especially true for boys. Otherwise, the likelihood of complications is very high.

• Call a pediatrician to a sick child.

Even if you are sure that yourIf your child has contracted mumps, call a doctor to your home anyway. Only a doctor can accurately determine whether it is mumps or inflammation of the lymph nodes. And this inflammation requires serious treatment with antibacterial drugs. If the disease is not recognized in time, you can lose precious time.

Treatment of mumps

As a rule, the child's treatment usually takes placeat home. However, in particularly severe cases, the child has to be hospitalized for treatment in the infectious diseases department of the hospital. This happens very rarely, so if the doctor insists on hospitalization, you should never refuse - it means that the disease has really taken a severe form. This disease does not require any specific treatment. You can only take those measures that are aimed at alleviating the general condition of the sick child. Such measures include:

• Bandages and compresses on the throat

In order to relieve pain in a baby,You can put a bandage of gauze and bandages on the neck, or tie it with a warm scarf. You can also make a warm oil compress. To do this, heat a few spoons of any vegetable oil, soak a gauze napkin in it. Carefully ensure that the napkin is not too hot - otherwise you risk burning the baby's skin

• Gargling

Let the baby gargle with warm water as often as possible.soda solution - take one teaspoon per glass of water. If the child is still too small, give him as much warm drink as possible. As a rule, these measures are quite enough for the child to recover successfully. We recommend reading:

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