Mumps: the symptoms that should alert you

Disease due to a paramyxovirus, called "mumps" virus, mumps is characterized by inflammation of the salivary glands, called parotid glands. This particularly contagious pathology is transmitted via saliva droplets.

Mumps is most common in children 5 to 9 years of age, but can also occur in adolescents and adults. In this case, complications can be observed, such as meningitis, encephalitis, deafness or testicular and ovarian involvement.

The symptoms of mumps

How to recognize mumps? The incubation period is 21 days, but no sign is associated with the disease in 20 to 30% of cases. As a result, mumps may go undetected. But if not, the symptoms of the disease are:

• painful swelling of one or both parotid glands;
• ear pain and swallowing;
• headache ;
• fever;
• tired ;
• loss of appetite.

A clinical examination is then sufficient to identify mumps. The symptoms usually last about ten days.

How to avoid mumps?

Once the diagnosis is made, the only treatment that can be put in place is that of fever and pain, because there is none to cure the disease itself.

However, hygiene rules are necessary to prevent the spread of the virus: wash hands and nose frequently, take precautions in case of blowing, avoid physical contact, ventilate the home or clean the objects affected by the virus. sick.

The only way to protect yourself from mumps? The vaccination. The MMR vaccine (measles, rubella, mumps) is mandatory for children born on January 1, 2018. They must receive two doses: one at 12 months, the other between 16 and 18 months.

Sources: The site of theHealth Insurance and of Public Health France.

Read also :

⋙ Vaccines: a large study confirms that there is no link between MMR and autism

⋙ Measles outbreak in New Aquitaine: how is the virus spread?

⋙ Rubella: the symptoms that must alert you