Mumps in children: symptoms and treatment, prevention. Signs of mumps in a child that should make you worry

Mumps is a disease that causes disruption of the central nervous system and glands (salivary, seminal) of the body. The pathology is viral in nature, the causative agent is considered to be representatives of paramyxoviruses.

The first symptoms of mumps occur in children younger age(3-7 years), boys are most susceptible to developing the disease. They get sick about 2 times more often than girls.

In this case, the disease causes serious complications in boys, such as impaired reproductive function up to complete impossibility of conceiving a child. In the first year of a child’s life, the risk of developing the disease is minimal, since the baby receives immune cells along with mother's milk.

What can provoke streptococcus in a child’s throat? Find out about this from ours.

Characteristics of the pathology

Symptoms of mumps in a child - photo:

In adults, cases of mumps development isolated, which is why this disease is classified as a childhood disease.

Currently, cases of diseases have become more rare, which is associated with the introduction effective vaccine, having a preventive effect, promoting the development of stable immunity to the pathogen.

The disease affects The lymph nodes located behind the child’s ears, as well as glandular organs ( salivary glands and seminal glands in boys).

The disease is viral in nature, the infectious agent is transmitted by airborne droplets, resulting in the disease being considered highly contagious.

Pathogen and methods of infection

Pathogenic microflora (viruses from the paramyxovirus family), which provoke the development of the disease, have high degree viability, the state of the virus is not affected by changes environment, the virus remains active even when sub-zero temperatures air.

The pathology is transmitted through contact with a sick person, and the carrier of the virus may have no symptoms (the pathology has a rather long incubation period, during which the disease does not manifest itself in any way, but the person is already considered a source of infection and can infect others).

A child who has had mumps has stable immunity is developed to the causative agent of the disease, so cases of re-infection are extremely rare.

What is the danger of having staphylococcus in the body of children? find out right now.

Causes

The main cause of the development of the disease is considered to be penetration into the body causative virus.

However, even if it enters the child’s body, symptoms and manifestations of pathology do not always occur. Therefore, others are needed predisposing factors, increasing the risk of developing the disease. Minor risk factors include:

1. Frequent infectious and viral diseases that lead to a long-term decrease in immunity.
2. Poor quality nutrition that provokes development.
3. Seasonal decrease in immunity observed in the autumn-winter period.
4. Lack of vaccination. A vaccine containing a therapeutic dose of the virus promotes the development of immunity to the specified strain, as a result of which the risk of mumps is reduced to almost zero.

Incubation period

The virus has penetrated the child’s body for a long time actively reproduces in it.

At the same time, the symptoms of the disease are at this stage are missing.

Duration incubation period is about 3 weeks, although the condition is decisive immune system child. In children with weakened immune systems, symptoms of pathology develop in a shorter time.

You will find information on the treatment of scarlet fever in children on our website.

Classification

The course of the disease can be different; it depends, first of all, on the state of the child’s immune system.

In some children the pathology manifests itself severe symptoms It has severe course, for others - it proceeds to the maximum painless. Depending on the affected area and severity characteristic symptoms Pathologists distinguish several varieties.

Complications and consequences

Mumps is considered dangerous disease, which can lead to various serious complications, especially in boys.

Most common negative consequences past illness are:

• testicular atrophy, infertility in men;
• chronic inflammation of the middle ear, which can lead to significant or complete hearing loss;
• CNS disorders;
• meningitis, encephalitis;
• pancreatitis;
• disruption of the endocrine system.

Symptoms and signs

How does the disease manifest itself? The clinical picture of the disease is very extensive, includes a large number of a wide variety of symptoms that appear depending on the type of disease and the area affected.

The first signs development of the disease are considered:

• weakness and malaise;
• painful sensations in muscles;
• chills and slight increase in body temperature;
• lack of appetite;
• sleep disturbance.

Over time clinical manifestations diseases are becoming more extensive, symptoms of intoxication occur, such as nausea, vomiting, a significant increase in temperature and increased headaches.

Temperature readings depend on the severity of the disease. Thus, a mild form is characterized by an increase in temperature to subfebrile levels.

With mumps medium degree heaviness, the temperature reaches 38-39 degrees. If the disease is severe, hyperthermia reaches values life-threatening(40 degrees and above).

Characteristic sign- damage to the salivary glands, which is manifested by symptoms such as:

1. Dry mouth.
2. Pain in the ear area, and the pain intensifies when talking or chewing food.
3. Enlargement of the tonsils and salivary glands, which become painful to the touch.
4. An inflammatory process involving the mucous membrane of the parotid gland, changes in external skin in this area (the skin becomes smoother).
5. Swelling of other facial glands.

In severe cases of the disease, it is noted defeat of the seminal glands in boys. In this case, symptoms such as pain in the genital area, an increase in the size of the testicles, and redness of the skin in this area occur.

The risk of damage to the seminal glands is especially high during puberty. IN childhood this form the disease develops much less frequently.

Diagnostics

To make a diagnosis in an uncomplicated form of pathology, it is enough only correctly assess the totality of available characteristics.

If the disease has a complicated course, a number of additional diagnostic studies, such as general analysis blood and urine, examination of saliva and other secretory secretions.

In addition, the child is assigned immunofluorescence study to determine the type of pathogen.

Treatment methods

How to treat a baby? Treatment requires more than just taking medications, but also adherence to a special lifestyle. In particular, it is recommended for the child bed rest for 7-10 days, as well as his complete isolation from other people.

It is important to follow a fluid intake regimen; the child should consume sufficient quantities of warm drinks.

Necessary dieting, The baby should not overeat; consumption of flour products, fatty foods, and white cabbage should be limited. The diet is based on dairy products, cereal porridges, potato dishes, and rye bread.

Medications

Using the necessary medicines - required condition proper therapy . The child is given an appointment:

Forecasts

The prognosis depends not only on the severity of the disease, but also on how correct its treatment was.

Also important role plays gender child (in boys the disease is more severe) as well as his age (than older child, the higher the likelihood of developing complications).

Prevention

Protect the child from development Such an unpleasant disease as mumps is not difficult, for this you need:

1. Strengthen your baby's immunity by organizing the right lifestyle and diet.
2. Get vaccinated on time.
3. Monitor compliance sanitary standards in institutions that the child attends ( kindergarten, school).

Mumps is a disease that affects glandular organs of a child.

Pathology can manifest itself in different ways, depending on its type; in some cases, the disease is asymptomatic.

Most often the disease develops for boys 3-7 years old, may appear in more late age. The disease is considered very dangerous, especially for boys, as it negatively affects the state of the child’s reproductive system and can lead to the development of infertility in the future.

Illness needs treatment, moreover, it consists not only in taking the prescribed by the doctor medicines, but also in observing a special lifestyle and diet.

About the symptoms, treatment and prevention of mumps in this video:

We kindly ask you not to self-medicate. Make an appointment with a doctor!

Mumps in children or the more common name - piggy, is part of the group of “childhood” infections and is an acute infectious viral disease. The causative agent of this disease in children is a virus mumps , belonging to the same variety as the measles virus. First of all piggy affects the glandular tissue of the infected organism - the salivary and parotid glands, sometimes causing inflammation of the pancreas. Children aged 3-6 years are most often infected with mumps (more than 90% of cases of the disease mumps - in children under 14 years of age), and this infection affects boys several times more than girls. All people who have had mumps in childhood acquire stable immunity to this disease throughout life.
Like most “childhood” viral diseases, piggy transmitted by airborne droplets and through contact objects with traces of infected saliva (for example, children's toys). Then, through the bloodstream, the virus penetrates the salivary (and some other) glands and the central nervous system, where it finds a favorable environment for reproduction. The virus is in the saliva of an infected child mumps appears 3-7 days after infection. Incubation period of mumps lasts from 3 to 34 days (on average two weeks). The susceptibility of a child's body to the mumps virus is lower than to viruses chickenpox or measles, but nevertheless reaches 60%. The peak increase in the number of people infected with mumps occurs in the autumn-winter season (during the cold season).
Virus mumps extremely unstable in external environment and quickly dies when the temperature increases to 70˚C, under the influence of ultraviolet rays and when treated with disinfectants.

Clinical picture:
Disease mumps begins acutely with an increase in body temperature to 38-40˚C. The child’s well-being deteriorates - a fever appears, a headache appears, appetite decreases, he has a fever from chills, his mouth feels sore and dry, pain occurs when chewing and opening the mouth.
Characteristic symptoms of mumps: pain in the ears (increased when talking or chewing) and glands affected by the virus. The skin over the inflamed glands is shiny and stretched (the color of the skin does not change). Next to auricle a swelling appears, which quickly spreads and after about a week from the moment of appearance, reaches its maximum size. The earlobe takes on a “pig-like” appearance, protruding forward and upward. During this week, the child’s temperature remains elevated. But if the temperature rises sharply again after normalization, high probability of involvement in inflammatory process some other organ. In this case, be sure to invite a doctor to see the sick child.

There are three types of flow mumps:lung, moderate severity and heavy. With a mild course of the disease, only the salivary glands are inflamed in the child, the high temperature lasts for several days, and the child’s health does not deteriorate significantly. With moderate severity - in addition to the salivary organs, other glandular organs become inflamed, the temperature is higher and lasts longer, sleep is disturbed, appetite worsens, pain is expressed when chewing, headache, lethargy. In severe cases, many glandular tissues and organs are affected, as well as the central nervous system, the temperature reaches 40 ° C (or more) and persists for several weeks, the child’s well-being deteriorates greatly.

Treatment of mumps :
To reduce the risk of complications, it is necessary to observe bed rest for 8-10 days. Apply dry warming compresses (for example, heated coarse salt wrapped in a soft cloth) to the child’s inflamed parotid swellings.
To prevent inflammation of the pancreas, it is recommended to follow a gentle diet (preferably dairy-vegetable). Exclude fatty foods, flour products, cabbage from your child’s diet and avoid overeating. It is recommended to eat potatoes, brown bread, and boiled rice.
In case of severe disease, physiotherapeutic sessions using diathermy, UHF therapy, ultraviolet irradiation.
If you have mumps, more careful oral care is necessary. It is important to rinse your mouth and brush your teeth more thoroughly. Rinse your mouth with a weak solution of soda (1 teaspoon per glass of boiled water).

Possible complications.
Despite the relatively mild course of the disease, piggy dangerous due to possible severe complications.Very often, when the central nervous system is damaged, a sick child develops serous meningitis.It manifests itself 4-5 days after the first symptoms of mumps appear. The condition of the sick child worsens sharply. The temperature rises greatly - up to 40-42 ° C. Severe headache and convulsions appear. Loss of consciousness is possible. The child begins to vomit, unrelated with meals (after which the child still feels unwell).
If the central nervous system is damaged, encephalitis may develop. Complications can lead to pathology of the genital, thyroid and pancreas.
With inflammation of the pancreas ( pancreatitis) the child loses his appetite, has stool problems, vomiting, and sharp girdling pain in the abdominal area. Pancreatitis can contribute to the development of obesity and diabetes.
When the gonads are damaged, girls develop inflammation of the ovaries, and boys develop inflammation of the testicles (orchitis). In boys orchitis diagnosed quite easily due to the anatomical location and pronounced clinical picture(change in skin color over the testicle and soreness). In girls, ovarian inflammation is detected later, since symptoms do not appear immediately and diagnosis is difficult. As a result of the impact of the mumps virus on genital function glands in boys Testicular atrophy may occur (and, as a consequence, infertility in men), and in girls, menstrual dysfunction, ovarian atrophy, and infertility during childbearing age may occur.

Prevention:
The main way to prevent mumps in children is vaccination.
The first vaccination is given simultaneously with the rubella and measles vaccination a year after the birth of the child, with revaccination at 5-6 years. It is advisable to refrain from walking and not to bathe the child on the day of vaccination.
Possible reactions to vaccination:
As a rule, reactions to vaccinations do not occur often. 5-6 days after vaccination with the vaccine, the child may have a slight increase in temperature, swollen lymph nodes, and redness at the injection site. The child may become more capricious for a while. Immunity from mumps appears several weeks after vaccination and remains for for 20-25 years.

Folk remedies for the treatment of mumps in children :
- Inhalation. Make the mixture: take 2 teaspoons of peppermint, 2 tablespoons of sage leaf, elderberry and linden flowers, dill seeds, chop the mixture and brew with boiling water (10 cups). Then wrap the child in a blanket and let him breathe in the vapors from the boiling tea leaves. Carry out the procedure for 20-30 minutes. daily.
- Pour boiling water (2 cups) into 2 teaspoons of sage, cover the tea leaves and leave for an hour. Then strain. Take half a glass 4 times a day. It is also useful to gargle the throat of a sick child with the infusion.

Children's health is periodically exposed to various threats, including infectious ones. To ensure that such diseases do not cause serious consequences or complications, parents must always be prepared for competent and quick action aimed at improving the health of your child. One of the common diagnoses, which is also relevant for adults, is infectious mumps. This disease cannot be ignored. Therefore, you need to know the symptoms of mumps, as they say, by sight.

What is mumps?

This term refers to an acute infectious disease that affects the salivary glands. It has another name - mumps. Being viral in nature, mumps can be transmitted by airborne droplets. Together with the bloodstream, the virus enters the salivary glands, and in some cases even the genital glands and the central nervous system.

Mostly children under 7 years of age are susceptible to this infection, but sometimes mumps also develops in adults. It is worth noting that a child tolerates the effects of this infection much easier than a mature person. Therefore, if symptoms of mumps appear in family members who are in adulthood, you should not delay a visit to the doctor.

The latent period of infection usually ranges from 11 to 23 days, after which signs of the disease become obvious.

When should you be concerned about infection?

As mentioned above, the mumps virus can be transmitted by airborne droplets and through objects that have come into contact with the saliva of an infected person. A person becomes an active carrier of the virus already on the second day after infection and is able to transmit it even before the epidemic partitis makes itself felt. Symptoms of this disease do not appear immediately or are not visible at all. In some cases, the course of the disease takes 21 days. But this is an exception. Most often, the carrier of the virus becomes harmless to others after 10 days.

Infectious mumps - symptoms

The infection can occur not only in an asymptomatic form, but also in a manifest form, in which signs of the disease are noticeable to others: chills, weakness, and malaise are observed for 1-2 days. Subsequently, the infected person experiences fever, dry mouth and pain in the ear area. At the same time or with some delay, an increase in the parotid salivary glands becomes noticeable. In most cases, unilateral parotitis develops first: the fossa between the mastoid process and the ramus lower jaw fills the swelling. In this case, the earlobe appears almost in the center of the swelling, occupying a noticeably elevated position.

The salivary glands are often not the only area affected. There are often cases when the inflammatory process spreads to the submandibular and sometimes sublingual glands. As a result, the skin under the salivary glands becomes tense and shiny. Symptoms of mumps also include pain in the mastoid area, behind and in front of the earlobe, as well as inflammatory reaction ducts of the parotid salivary glands (this condition is called “Mursu’s symptom”).

Within 3-4 days, the signs of this infectious disease develop, and after that the symptoms gradually disappear - intoxication and fever disappear. As for the temperature reaction, it usually lasts 4-7 days. For this reason, it is very important to exercise competent control over the body temperature of patients with infectious mumps and objectively assess the condition as a whole. In the event that after short period apyrexia fever is recorded again or initially lasts longer than the standard period, there is every reason to suspect the involvement of the nervous system and other glandular organs in the inflammatory process.

The above symptoms of mumps are part of the course of the disease and are not defined as complications. By the way, there are frequent cases when, for a given infectious disease pancreatitis develops. In such a situation, patients will complain of nausea, vomiting and epigastric pain. In case of such complications, it is recommended to conduct a blood and urine test for amylase activity.

If the pancreas was involved in the disease process, doctors may prescribe enzyme preparations. In case of inflammation of the testicles, painkillers belonging to the group of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used.

As for antibiotics, in most cases they are prescribed if mumps symptoms recur.

Treatment for severe forms

If a child under 2 years of age had a severe generalized form of mumps, he must be hospitalized. This approach is also relevant for children who become ill while in closed institutions.

If a complication such as meningitis develops, bed rest is observed for at least 2 weeks. In case of meningoencephalitis - from 7 to 14 days. During the treatment process, a dairy-vegetable diet is used (other gentle nutrition systems are also acceptable). It is recommended to abstain from standard food intake for the first 3 days, using parenteral nutrition(meaning crystalloid solutions, glucose, levamine, alvesin, etc.).

In rare cases, the doctor may prescribe physiotherapeutic methods in the form of ultraviolet irradiation or UHF. Regarding the topic “Mumps in children: symptoms and treatment,” it is worth noting the importance herbal decoctions and infusions. Their key value is that they have an anti-inflammatory and restorative effect on the patient’s body. This can be an infusion of linden or a decoction of rose hips (should be taken orally). To rinse the mouth, it is better to use an infusion of a mixture of sage and chamomile.

As a result, it is worth emphasizing the importance of parents’ timely response to mumps symptoms in children. We are talking about a visit to the doctor, bed rest, isolation from other family members and proper treatment. If everything is done correctly, the child will safely survive the manifestations of mumps.

Mumps (or mumps) is an acute viral disease, which occurs due to exposure to paramyxovirus. Mumps, the symptoms of which manifest themselves in the form of fever, a general type of intoxication, as well as enlargement of the salivary glands (one or more), in frequent cases affects other organs, as well as the central nervous system.

general description

The source of the disease is exclusively humans, that is, patients in whom the disease occurs in a manifest or indirect form. Patients become contagious within the first 1-2 days from the moment of infection until the first symptoms indicating this disease appear. In addition, they are contagious in the first five days of the disease. From the moment the patient’s symptoms characteristic of mumps disappear, it also ceases to be contagious.

The virus is transmitted by airborne droplets, but the possibility of its transmission through contaminated objects (for example, through toys, etc.) cannot be ruled out. As for susceptibility to infection, it is quite high.

Children are predominantly affected by the disease. Regarding gender, it is noted that the incidence of mumps among men occurs one and a half times more often than among women. In addition, the disease is characterized by high seasonality, with the maximum incidence in March-April, and the minimum in August-September.

In the adult population (about 80-90%), the presence of antibodies to the infection is detected in the blood, which, in turn, indicates the significance of its spread.

Features of the course of mumps

The mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract, which also does not exclude tonsils in this context. Penetration of the pathogen occurs to the salivary glands in a hematogenous manner, and not through the stenon (that is, ear) duct. The virus spreads throughout the body, during which it chooses the most suitable for itself. favorable conditions, in which its reproduction will become possible - in particular, glandular organs and the nervous system.

The nervous system, as well as other glandular organs, is susceptible to damage not only after the salivary glands have been affected, but also at the same time or before. In some cases, this type of lesion may not be present.

The localization of the pathogen, as well as the severity of changes accompanying certain organs, determines the widest variety that characterizes the symptoms of the disease. During the course of mumps, the body begins to produce antibodies, which are subsequently detected for several years; in addition, an allergic restructuring also occurs in the body, which persists for long period time (possibly even throughout life).

In determining the mechanisms of neutralization of the virus we are considering, it is important to note that a significant role is assigned to virucidal bodies that suppress the activity of the virus, as well as the process of its penetration into cells.

Classification of clinical forms of mumps

The course of mumps can occur in various ways clinical forms, which is especially important in the process of diagnosing the disease. Today there is no generally accepted version of the classification of forms of the disease, but the following, most successful variation is applicable.

• Manifest forms:
• The forms are uncomplicated: only the salivary glands (one or several) are affected;
• Complicated forms: the salivary glands, as well as some other types of organs, are affected, which manifests itself in the form of meningitis, nephritis, orchitis, arthritis, mastitis, meningoencephalitis, etc.;
• Depending on the inherent severity of the form:
• Light (atypical, erased) forms;
• Moderate forms;
• The forms are heavy.
• Inapparent form of a type of infection;
• Residual type phenomena that occur against the background of mumps:
• Diabetes;
• Infertility;
• Testicular atrophy;
• Disturbances in the functions of the central nervous system;
• Deafness.

The classification regarding the manifest forms of the disease implies two additional criteria: complications (their presence or absence), as well as the severity of the disease. Then the possibility of the infection occurring in an inapparent form (that is, asymptomatic) is indicated; in addition, residual phenomena that persist for a long time (mainly throughout life) from the moment of elimination of the mumps virus from the patient’s body are also identified. The severity of the consequences of the disease (deafness, infertility, etc.) determines the need for this section, because in practice specialists often lose sight of them.

As for uncomplicated forms of the disease, these include those variants of the course of the disease in which only the salivary glands in any number are affected. In the case of complicated forms, damage to the salivary glands is considered an obligatory component of the clinical picture, while, however, the development of damage to other types of organs (mainly glands: mammary, reproductive, etc.), nervous system, kidneys, joints, and myocardium is not excluded.

In relation to determining the severity criteria corresponding to the course of mumps, they start from the severity of fever and signs characteristic of intoxication, in addition to which complications (their absence or presence) are also taken into account. The course of uncomplicated mumps, as a rule, is characterized by its own mildness; moderate severity is somewhat less common; severe forms in any case occur with complications (often multiple).

Peculiarities mild forms of mumps consist in the course of the disease in combination with low-grade fever, mild or absent intoxication, excluding the possibility of complications.

Moderate forms are characterized by the occurrence of febrile temperature (within 38-39 degrees), as well as a long-term form of fever with severe symptoms of intoxication (headache, chills, myalgia, arthralgia). The salivary glands reach significant sizes, and bilateral parotitis is often possible in combination with complications.

Severe forms diseases occur at high body temperature (from 40 degrees or more), and its increase is characterized by a significant duration (within two or more weeks). In addition, the symptoms characteristic of intoxication are sharply expressed (severe weakness, decreased blood pressure, sleep disorders, tachycardia, anorexia, etc.). In this case, mumps is almost always bilateral, and its complications are multiple. Fever in combination with toxicosis occurs in waves, and each individual wave is directly related to the appearance of an additional complication. In some cases, a severe course is not determined from the first days of the onset of the disease.

Mumps: symptoms in children

Mumps, like any other infection, has several relevant stages, the first of which is the incubation period, its duration is about 12-21 days.

Following the penetration into children's body The virus enters the bloodstream through the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, after which it spreads throughout the body. The virus is predominantly concentrated in the area of ​​glandular organs (pancreas, salivary glands, thyroid, testicles, prostate), as well as to the central nervous system. It is in these organs that the virus accumulates and multiplies, which by the end of the incubation period again appears in the blood - this already determines the second wave of viremia. The duration of presence of viruses in the blood is about 7 days, during which it becomes possible to detect them using specialized research techniques.

This is followed by the stage of mumps, which is the stage of the appearance of clinical symptoms. The classic course of mumps in children is characterized by the appearance of fever (about 38 degrees). Within a day or two, swelling occurs in combination with pain, localized from the parotid salivary gland. Inflammation of the salivary gland, accordingly, leads to disruption of its functions, this, in turn, causes dry mouth.

Considering that saliva itself has antibacterial as well as digestive properties, the resulting disorder provokes the appearance of dyspeptic disorders (abdominal pain, nausea, stool disorders) and the appearance in the oral cavity bacterial infections(stomatitis). Mumps in children can occur either in the bilateral form of damage to the salivary gland or in the bilateral form.

In addition to the parotid gland, the sublingual and submandibular salivary glands can also be affected by mumps. Due to this, the face becomes puffy, this manifestation is especially pronounced in the parotid and chin areas. Based on the characteristic manifestations of the disease, it is popularly called mumps - due to its resemblance to a pig’s “snout”.

When other organs are involved in the inflammatory process, complicated mumps develops. In this case, children experience heaviness in the abdomen and stool disturbances, nausea and vomiting.

Older children (school age) with this disease may experience testicular damage (orchitis), as well as damage to the prostate gland(that is, with prostatitis). Basically, in children, only one testicle is affected, in which swelling forms. In addition, the skin on the scrotum becomes red and feels warm to the touch.

In the case of prostatitis, the localization of pain is concentrated in the perineal area. A rectal examination determines the presence of a tumor formation, the presence of which is also accompanied by the manifestation of pain. As for girls, in this case, damage to the ovaries becomes possible, which is accompanied by symptoms in the form of nausea and abdominal pain.

The course of mumps in children is possible not only in the classical form of its manifestation, but also in an erased form and an asymptomatic form. The erased form occurs with a slight increase in temperature (up to 37.5 degrees), there is no characteristic damage to the salivary glands (or it is insignificant and disappears after a few days). Respectively, asymptomatic form Mumps in children occurs without any symptoms, without bothering them in any way. At the same time, it is precisely these forms that are the most dangerous for the child’s environment - in this case, he is a spreader of the disease, which, in turn, does not always manifest itself accordingly, making it impossible to carry out timely quarantine measures.

Mumps: symptoms in adults

Mumps also occurs in adults. Its course and symptoms in most of its manifestations are similar to the course of mumps in children.

The duration of the incubation period is about 11-23 days (mostly within 15-19). Some patients experience prodromal symptoms one to two days before the onset of the disease. It manifests itself in the form of chills, pain in the joints and muscles, and headaches. Dryness appears in the mouth, and discomfort occurs in the area of ​​the parotid salivary glands.

Basically, the onset of the disease is accompanied by a gradual transition from low-grade fever to a high temperature, the duration of the fever is about a week. Meanwhile, it often happens that the course of the disease occurs without elevated temperature. In combination with fever, headache, malaise and weakness are noted; patients may also be bothered by insomnia.

The main manifestation of mumps in adults, as in children, is inflammation of the parotid glands, and possibly also the sublingual and submandibular glands. The projection of these glands determines swelling and pain on palpation. The pronounced enlargement to which the parotid salivary gland is subject leads to the fact that the patient’s face becomes pear-shaped in shape, and the earlobe also rises somewhat on the affected side. In the area of ​​swelling, the skin is noticeably stretched, it is also shiny and quite difficult to gather into folds. There is no change in color.

In adults, mumps mainly manifests itself in a bilateral form of lesions, although, as in children, the possibility of unilateral lesions cannot be ruled out. The patient experiences pain and a feeling of tension in the parotid region, which is especially acute at night. Compression by a tumor in the area of ​​the Eustachian tube can lead to noise in the ears, as well as pain in them. Pressure behind the earlobe indicates a pronounced manifestation of pain, and this symptom is one of the most important among early manifestations diseases.

In some cases, the patient experiences difficulty when trying to chew food; more severe forms of manifestation of this symptom are expressed in the development of functional trismus that occurs in the masticatory muscles. Also relevant symptoms are the appearance of dry mouth with a simultaneous decrease in salivation. The duration of the pain is about 3-4 days, in some cases it radiates to the neck or ear with a gradual subsidence within a week. Around the same time, the swelling that arose in the projection of the salivary glands disappears.

The prodromal period is a feature of the course of the disease in adults. It is characterized by the presence of severe clinical symptoms. In addition to the already noted general toxic manifestations, phenomena of dyspeptic and catarrhal scales become relevant. Lesions of the salivary glands (submandibular and sublingual) are observed in adults much more often than in children.

Mumps: complications

Mumps is most often accompanied by complications in the form of damage to the central nervous system and glandular organs. In case if we're talking about about childhood morbidity, then most often the complication becomes serous meningitis. It is noteworthy that males are three times more likely to develop meningitis as a complication of mumps. Mostly, symptoms indicating damage to the central nervous system appear after inflammation of the salivary glands has occurred. Meanwhile, simultaneous damage to the central nervous system in combination with the salivary glands cannot be ruled out.

In about 10% of cases of mumps, the development of meningitis occurs earlier than inflammation of the salivary glands, and in some cases, meningeal symptoms in patients appear without pronounced changes affecting the salivary glands.

The onset of meningitis is characterized by its own severity, in frequent cases it is described as violent (often by 4-7 days of illness). In addition, chills occur, body temperature reaches 39 degrees or more. The patient suffers from severe headache and vomiting. Starts to develop quite quickly meningeal syndrome, which manifests itself in the rigidity of the neck muscles, as well as in the symptoms of Kering-Brudzinsky. The symptoms characteristic of meningitis and fever disappear after 10-12 days.

Some patients other than those listed meningeal symptoms, are faced with the development of signs characteristic of meningoencephalitis or encephalomyelitis. In this case, a disturbance of consciousness occurs, drowsiness and lethargy appear, periosteal and tendon reflexes are characterized by their own unevenness. Paresis in the area is relevant facial nerve, hemiparesis and sluggishness noted in the pupillary reflexes.

Such a complication of mumps as orchitis, to varying degrees of its manifestation, it mainly occurs in adults. The incidence of this complication is determined by the severity of the disease. So, if we are talking about moderate and severe forms of mumps, then orchitis becomes a complication in about 50% of cases.

Symptoms characteristic of orchitis appear by 5-7 days from the onset of the disease, and they are characterized by another wave of fever at a temperature of about 39-40 degrees. Appear in the area of ​​the testicle and scrotum severe pain, in some cases, their irradiation (spread) to the lower abdomen is possible. The enlargement of the testicle reaches a size corresponding to a goose egg.

The duration of fever is about 3 to 7 days, the duration of testicular enlargement is about 5-8 days. After this, the pain disappears, and the testicle gradually decreases. Later, after one or two months, manifestations are possible that indicate its atrophy, which becomes quite a common occurrence in patients who have had orchitis - in 50% of cases.

In the case of mumps orchitis, a rare complication is also noted pulmonary infarction, arising due to thrombosis occurring in the veins of the prostate and in pelvic organs. Another complication, which is much more rare in cases of its own occurrence, is priapism. Priapism is the appearance of a painful and prolonged erection of the penis, which occurs when the cavernous bodies are filled with blood. Note that this phenomenon is not associated with sexual arousal.

The development of complications such as acute pancreatitis, noted by 4-7 days of illness. Acute pancreatitis manifests itself as sharp pain, occurring in the epigastric region, as well as in the form of nausea, fever, and repeated vomiting. The examination makes it possible to determine in some patients the presence of tension in the abdominal muscles, as well as symptoms indicating irritation of the peritoneum. Amylase activity in the urine increases, which can last up to a month, while other symptoms acute pancreatitis valid for a period of 7-10 days.

In some cases, a complication such as damage to the hearing organ causes absolute deafness. The main symptom of this lesion is ringing in the ears and the appearance of noise in them. Labyrinthitis is indicated by vomiting, dizziness, and disturbances in coordination of movements. Mostly, deafness develops unilaterally, on the side of the lesion of the corresponding salivary gland. The convalescence period excludes the possibility of hearing restoration.

A complication like arthritis, occurs in about 0.5% of patients. Most often, adults are susceptible to them, and men experience mumps arthritis much more often than women. Noted this complication during the first two weeks from the moment of damage to the salivary glands. Meanwhile, it is also possible for them to appear before the glands have undergone corresponding changes. Large joints are mainly affected (ankles, knees, shoulders, etc.) - they swell and become significantly painful, in addition, serous effusion can form in them. As for the duration of the manifestations of arthritis, most often it is about 1-2 weeks; in some cases, symptoms can persist for up to 3 months.

To date, it has been established that mumps in pregnant women usually causes damage to the fetus. Thus, subsequently in children the presence of peculiar changes in the heart may be noted, which is defined as the primary form of myocardial fibroelastosis.

Regarding others possible complications in the form of oophoritis, prostatitis, nephritis, mastitis and others, it can be noted that they appear quite rarely.

Treatment of mumps

any specific treatment no mumps. So, treatment of this disease can be carried out at home. As for hospitalization, it is provided only for severe and complicated forms of mumps, including on the basis of epidemiological indications. Patients are isolated at home for 9 days. In those children's institutions in which a case of mumps is detected, quarantine is established for a period of 3 weeks.

Dwelling on the features of treatment, it should be noted that the main task in it is to prevent (prevent) complications. In particular, bed rest should be observed for at least 10 days. It is noteworthy that men who excluded bed rest during the first week from mandatory treatment measures experienced the development of orchitis three times more often than those men who were hospitalized in this way during the first three days of the disease.

Prevention of pancreatitis is ensured by following a certain diet. In particular, you should avoid excess saturation and reduce your consumption of cabbage, fats, pasta and white bread. The basis of the diet should consist of dairy and vegetable components. Rice is recommended for cereals; in addition, potatoes and black bread are allowed.

If orchitis develops, prednisolone (for up to 7 days) or another type of corticosteroid is prescribed. Meningitis also requires the use of corticosteroids.

Concerning general forecast, then overall it is favorable. The probability of death is 1:100,000. Meanwhile, it is important to consider the possibility of developing testicular atrophy and, as a consequence, azoospermia. After suffering from meningoencephalitis and mumps meningitis, asthenia is observed for a long time.

If you or your child develops symptoms characteristic of mumps, you should contact your pediatrician/GP or an infectious disease specialist as soon as possible.

The disease mumps is popularly known as mumps. This disease is viral in nature. Characteristic signs diseases are inflammation of the glands, fever, intoxication of the body. Inflammation of the genital, salivary and parotid glands occurs. Mumps is only a childhood disease. But adults can also get mumps.

Mumps is viral respiratory infection, it may be epidemiological in nature because it is transmitted by airborne droplets. The age of children who are susceptible to the disease ranges from 5 to 8 years. Children under 3 years of age rarely suffer from this disease. The risk of contracting mumps extends to children under 16 years of age.

Adults suffer from mumps much less frequently. The disease does not pose any danger to life. But treatment is worth paying attention to Special attention. The pathology of the disease, especially in boys, can lead to serious complications. Currently, this disease is not a widespread disease, because children are vaccinated against mumps in mandatory.

Mumps in children

Mumps disease in children is infectious. The main reason why the disease develops is the virus that ends up in the body. The disease occurs due to a virus of the paramyxovirus family. The virus is unstable in the external environment. When he finds himself in human body, it primarily affects the cells of parenchymal organs. If a child suffers from mumps, then he first of all experiences inflammation of the salivary glands. The disease can also affect the gonads and pancreas. It is not uncommon for the nervous system to become infected.

How does mumps become infected?

The disease is transmitted through the air. When a baby is sick, a virus is released when he sneezes. It enters the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract of healthy children, and their functional epithelial cells become infected. The virus begins to infect healthy cells of the child’s body. At the same time, active reproduction occurs viral infection. Then the virus ends up in the blood, and thus spreads throughout the body. Those organs that are sensitive to this disease are susceptible to the disease. Very often, mumps affects the parotid glands.

Risk factors

The disease occurs due to factors that increase the risk of infection. Mumps disease in children occurs for the following reasons:

If the sanitary regime is not followed at home, then mumps will definitely appear in children. Mumps is a childhood disease. Therefore, the children's parents preschool age should be especially attentive to the symptoms of mumps in children.

Mumps in children symptoms and treatment

Once the virus is in the child’s body, the disease resembles a common cold. The baby develops the following symptoms:

1. Chills.
2. Joint pain.
3. Fever .
4. Painful sensations in the muscles.

After these symptoms, after a few days, inflammatory processes occurring in the salivary glands begin to appear.

Main signs of the disease

The disease can be identified by the following symptoms:

When the disease occurs, swelling does not allow you to fully turn your neck in different directions. Because of this, the baby's head is tilted in the direction where the swelling is observed. If a child has bilateral damage to the glands, then the head is pulled into the shoulders.

In addition to the above signs of the disease, the patient has painful condition, which is as follows:

1. Headache.
2. Insomnia.
3. Dry mouth.
4. General weakness.
5. Chills.
6. Impaired appetite.

Pathology and its varieties

The disease comes in two forms. The first form is the typical one. When the disease occurs, the patient experiences characteristic symptoms. The form of the disease is as follows:

The second form of the disease is atypical. With this form, the symptoms are subtle. In medicine, there have been cases where mumps was asymptomatic. Based on severity, the disease is divided into three types:

1. Mild form of the disease. A child’s fever does not last long. The virus only affects the salivary glands.
2. Moderate form of the disease. The child has a prolonged fever. The disease affects not only the salivary glands, but also other organs. The child notices a decrease in appetite and sleep disturbances. He feels weak.
3. Severe form of the disease. With this type of mumps passage, there is rapid illness several glands. The disease can affect the nervous system. Often, in severe cases of the disease, meningitis is added to the mumps disease. If a child has suffered from severe mumps, he may develop pancreatitis or deafness.

Complications of the disease

In almost all cases, the mumps disease is harmless. In rare cases, complications occur. The most serious complication is orchitis, which affects the testicles. This complication is the most serious. The virus usually affects the testicles adolescence. This complication is observed in those children who were not vaccinated in a timely manner.

If the mumps disease is severe and the virus affects both testicles, then the man may subsequently be infertile. A complication of mumps is pancreatitis. A virus that enters a child’s body can infect the pancreas. Structural changes are taking place in it. Another complication is diabetes. The child may develop type 1 diabetes.

Treatment of mumps in children

An infectious disease specialist treats the disease. If a child is diagnosed with mumps, the following doctors are involved in the treatment of the disease:

1. Neuropathologist.
2. Endocrinologist.
3. Rheumatologist.

To date, there is no treatment that effectively fights the mumps virus. When suffering from mumps, emphasis is placed on symphonic therapy. Treatment is aimed at reducing pain in the patient and protecting the baby from the development of complications. The treatment process occurs in 3 directions. Required for the child proper care. You need to follow a dietary diet. The child should receive drug therapy.

Features of care

At the first signs of inflammation of the glands, the child should be protected from other children. If you get sick, you must follow the recommendations of doctors. The child must be kept in bed. The baby must remain in bed for at least 10 days. Bed rest is extended if acute symptoms are not removed. During a child’s illness, physical and emotional stress should be excluded.

When you have mumps, hypothermia is very dangerous. The house needs frequent ventilation. This is necessary to ensure that viruses do not accumulate in the room. Other family members must wear masks. This is to prevent the spread of the virus. When in contact with a child, wash your hands frequently. A separate towel and dishes should be used for the child.

Drug treatment of the disease

Doctors do not have exact recommendations on how to cure this disease. Symphonic medications are used in treatment. For each individual patient, the medicine is selected individually. It is strictly forbidden to fight the disease on your own, because serious complications may arise.

Do not apply hot compresses to the affected area. Because of this, the inflammatory process may worsen and treatment will be more complicated. For mumps, a group of NSAID medications is used. This includes the following medications:

These medications fight high temperature and eliminate inflammation. The group of corticosteroids includes the following drugs:

1. Prednisone.
2. Methylprednisolone.
3. Dexamethasone.

These medications are aimed at eliminating the anti-inflammatory process. But at the same time, they have a bad effect on the immune system. Desensitizing agents include:

1. Suprastin.
2. Tavegil.
3. Erius.

These medications are aimed at reducing inflammation. For mumps, analgesics are indicated. This group includes:

1. Baralgin.
2. Pentalgin.
3. Analgin.

Medicines eliminate painful sensations at the patient. For mumps, enzymatic medications are prescribed. These include:

1. Festal.
2. Pancreatin.
3. Mezim.

The tablets are aimed at improving digestion and stimulating food absorption. Treatment is prescribed individually, so the treating doctor may prescribe other groups of medications. Drugs are prescribed depending on which system is affected.

Preventive measures

The most effective prevention- this is vaccination. Doctors now use several types of vaccines. But their work happens according to complex mechanism. When vaccinated, the child’s body begins to recognize incoming antigens. Thus, antibodies against the mumps virus begin to be produced.

If you get such a vaccination, the protection will be present in the baby’s body throughout his life. For mumps, combined vaccines are used that are directed against rubella, mumps and measles. A child is vaccinated twice in his entire life. The first vaccine is given at 1 year of age and then at 6 years of age.

Bottom line

Many parents are concerned about the question: after contracting mumps, can a boy have children? Very often the disease is transferred to mild form. This happens after vaccination. In this case, on reproductive function the disease has no effect. But in rare cases, complications in the form of infertility occur. This complication is observed in boys who were not vaccinated in childhood.

The disease mumps refers to an infection that affects the salivary glands. The first symptoms of the disease resemble a cold, which manifests itself in the parotid area. The patient develops swelling. If a child has symptoms of mumps, it is imperative to seek help from a doctor. Treatment is prescribed on an individual basis. Mumps is treated with sympathetic medications. Mumps often occurs in children aged 5 to 8 years. Therefore, during this period, special attention should be paid to the child for the presence of mumps symptoms.