Mumps is an acute , contagious, viral illness characterized by painful enlargement of the parotid glands, just below and in front of the ear, and at times, the salivary glands under the jaw and sometimes of the pancreas, ovaries, or testes.
Together with the likes of measles and chickenpox , mumps was once considered one of the inevitable infectious diseases of childhood. This disease, mainly affecting children, can be prevented by vaccination.
Mumps is characterized by a painful swelling of both cheeks. In some cases, the swelling may occur in only one cheek, or there may be no swelling at all. The word "mumps" comes from an old English word meaning lumps or bumps in the cheeks.
Causes of mumps:
Mumps is caused by a mumps virus, an RNA virus of the paramyxovirus family of viruses. It spreads from person to person as well as through contact with contaminated items and surfaces.
Once the mumps virus enters the body, it passes into the bloodstream and can spread to many different glands and to the brain.
Mumps occurs most often in children ages two through twelve, although unvaccinated adults are also susceptible.
People with mumps are contagious for about a week before and two weeks after the onset of symptoms, which occurs about two to three weeks after exposure to the mumps virus.
Mumps is mainly caused by a virus. The incubation period is from 16-18 days, ranging from 12-25 days after exposure. The period when someone is most infectious to others is from 1-2 days before and 5 days after the onset of swelling in the glands.
The chances of getting the disease are greater if you have never received the mumps vaccine. Once you have had mumps you will develop an immunity to it and will not get it again.
Mumps is spread through direct contact with saliva, e.g. kissing or sharing objects contaminated with infected saliva (e.g. cups, cutlery). The mumps virus is also present in nasal and throat discharge.
Other common causes of mumps includes:
Droplets from coughs & sneezes
Lack of immunization
Symptoms of Mumps:
The symptoms and signs of mumps are:
The first symptoms usually appear 16 to 18 days after exposure. It begins with fever and pain upon opening the mouth
About 1/3 of people have no symptoms.
Others can have swollen glands (swollen cheeks), headache, fever, and earache.
Sore muscles
Loss of appetite
Headache
Earache that is aggravated by chewing
In men and adolescent boys, swelling in one or both testes
Aversion to light, lethargy, and a stiff neck
Upper abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting
Lower abdominal pain in women
Temperature is moderately high, usually lasting for 3-4 days.
Eating or drinking acidic or citric foods causes much discomfort.
Other symptoms may include testicular pain (in males), seizures, stiff neck, and difficulty swallowing.
not feeling well
The mouth may feel dry.
You may feel tired and off your food for a few days.
Home remedies for mumps:
Some important home remedies for mumps includes:
Don't be tart: Avoid giving your child citrus fruits or juices, or any other food that is high in acid, when he or she is suffering from mumps.
Ginger powder: A paste made with dry ginger powder and water is applied on the visibly swollen parts.
Mullein tea: Apply a cloth soaked in mullein tea to affected areas to help with swelling.
Herbal treatment for mumps:
Here are some important herbal treatment for mumps:
Indian Aloe:
The use of the herb Indian aloe is a wellknown remedy in the indigenous system of medicine for any inflamed and painful part of the body.
Asparagus:
The seeds of asparagus are valuable in mumps. These seeds, combined with an equal proportion of fenugreek (methi) seeds, should be ground together to the consistency of a paste. This paste can be applied over the swellings.
Herbs:
An acute attack can be managed using the mixture of concentrated extracts of the herbs Rosehips, Hypericum, Phytolacca, Fennel and Chamomile with the Bach Flower Rescue Remedy. This is taken at a dose rate of 15 drops three times daily in water and continued for 6 to 8 weeks.
Meningitis Symptoms And Treatment
Why would a person fake being ill? Some researchers say they act this way because of an inner need to be seen as ill or injured for attention and/or to be treated as a medical patient, and not so much for financial gain. They desire sympathy and are willing to even undergo painful or risky tests and operations in order to get the sympathy they crave.
Munchausen syndrome is named for Baron von Munchausen, an 18th century German officer who was known for embellishing the stories of his life and experiences. It is the most severe type of factitious disorder. Most symptoms expressed by persons with Munchausen syndrome are related to physical illness such as chest pain, stomach problems, or fever rather than symptoms of a mental disorder. There have been people so skilled at faking seizures not even a much trained professional could tell the difference. The term Munchausen syndrome is also sometimes used to refer to factitious disorders in general.
Possible warning signs of Munchausen syndrome may include the following:
?A dramatic but inconsistent medical history.
?Unclear symptoms not controllable that become more severe or change once treatment begins.
?Predictable relapses following improvement in the condition.
?Extensive knowledge of hospitals and/or medical terminology.
?Presence of multiple surgical scars.
?Appearance of new or additional symptoms following negative test results.
?Eagerness to have medical tests, operations, or other procedures.
?History of seeking treatment at numerous hospitals, clinics and doctors offices even in different cities.
?Problems with identity and self-esteem
?Reluctance by the patient to allow health care professionals to meet with or talk to family, friends, or prior health care providers.
The exact cause of Munchausen syndrome is not known. Some researchers believe it is a combination of biological and psychological factors. Some theories suggest Munchausen syndrome is caused by a history of child abuse or neglect as a child.
Other experts suggest Munchausen syndrome is caused by a defense mechanism against sexual and aggressive impulses. Others believe it may be a form of self-punishment.
There is also a possible link with personality disorders. Personality disorders are common in individuals with Munchausen syndrome.
The syndrome is considered to be rare. It can occur in children, but most often affects young adults.
Doctors have a difficult time diagnosing Munchausen syndrome. They must rule out any possible physical and/or mental illnesses. They often will use a variety of diagnostic tests and procedures before considering a diagnosis of Munchausen syndrome. In addition, people with Munhausen syndrome tend to seek treatment at many different health care facilities and because of the dishonesty in representation, which makes it difficult to obtain accurate statistics.
When a diagnosis of Munchausen syndrome is made it is often difficult to get the patient to seek treatment. Persons with this syndrome are actively seeking treatment for the various disorders he or she invents and not for Munchausen syndrome. Therefore, the outlook for recovery is very poor.
If treatment is sought the first goal is to modify the person's behavior and reduce his or her misuse or overuse of medical resources. When this goal is met, treatment aims to work out any underlying psychological issues that might be causing the person's behavior or help them find solutions to housing or other social needs.
There are no medicines specifically for Munchausen syndrome. Psychotherapy (a type of counseling) will focus on changing the thinking and behavior of the individual. Medicine might be used to treat related disorders such as depression, anxiety or a personality disorder. Use of medicines must be carefully monitored. People with factitious disorders are at risk for using the drugs in a harmful way or may never even pick up the drugs prescribed at the pharmacy.
People with Munchausen syndrome are at risk for health problems and even death associated with hurting themselves or trying to cause symptoms. They are at high risk for substance abuse and suicide attempts.
It is possible that some people can experience one or two brief episodes of Munchausen syndrome. However, in most cases, the disorder is long-term. There is no known way to prevent the disorder. Prognosis might be better to begin treatment in people as soon as they begin to have symptoms.
A related condition to Munchausen syndrome is called Munchausen by proxy syndrome. This refers to a caregiver who fakes symptoms by causing injury to someone else, often a child for the sake of wanting to be with that person in a hospital or similar medical setting.
Sources: The Cleveland Clinic, Wikipedia
Disclaimer: This article is for information only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any kind of a physical or mental problem. All physical and mental problems should be addressed by a health care professional.
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Both Prahalad Singh & Connie Limon are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Prahalad Singh has sinced written about articles on various topics from Strep Throat, Health and Pneumonia Causes. Nikhil Jain is a writer, who writes many great articles on home remedies and herbal remedies and some conditions and ailments. For more information on. Prahalad Singh's top article generates over 2900 views. Bookmark Prahalad Singh to your Favourites.
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