The incubation period of infectious parotitis in children. Mumps disease and its symptoms in children

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

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

At the same time, 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, as the baby receives immune cells along with mother's milk.

Characteristics of the pathology

Symptoms of mumps in a child - photo:

In the adult population, cases of mumps single, which is why this disease belongs to the category of children.

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

Ailment strikes The lymph nodes located behind the ears of the child, as well as glandular organs (salivary glands and seminal glands in boys).

The disease has a viral nature, the causative agent of the infection is transmitted by airborne droplets, as a result of which the disease is considered extremely contagious.

Pathogen and methods of infection

Pathogenic microflora (viruses from the paramyxovirus family), which provokes the development of the disease, has a high degree of viability, the state of the virus is not affected by changes in the environment, the virus retains its activity even at sub-zero air temperatures.

Pathology is transmitted by contact with a sick person, and the carrier of the virus may not have 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 with mumps build up a strong immune system to the causative agent of the disease, so cases of re-infection are extremely rare.

Causes

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

However, even when it enters the body of a child, symptoms and manifestations of pathology do not always occur. Therefore, other predisposing factors that increase the risk of developing the disease. Secondary risk factors include:

  1. Frequent infectious and viral diseases that lead to a long-term decrease in immunity.
  2. Poor 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 contributes to 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, having penetrated into the child's body for a long time actively reproduces in it.

At the same time, there are no symptoms of the disease at this stage.

The duration of the incubation period is about 3 weeks although the state of the child's immune system is of decisive importance. In children with a weakened immune system, the symptoms of pathology develop in a shorter time.

Classification

The course of the disease can be different, it depends primarily on the state of the child's immune system.

Some children have pathology severe symptoms, has a severe course, in others it proceeds as much as possible painlessly. Depending on the affected area and severity characteristic symptoms There are several types of pathology.

area affected

Severity

Depending on the area of ​​​​damage, there are such varieties as:

  1. Uncomplicated, in which only the salivary glands are affected.
  2. Complicated, having a more extensive focus of inflammation (the salivary, seminal glands, as well as internal organs are affected). This form is accompanied by a number of concomitant diseases, such as nephritis,.

Depending on the severity of the characteristic symptoms, the disease can have the following forms of the course:

  1. Asymptomatic. There are no signs of illness, however, a sick child still continues to be a source of infection.
  2. Easy. The clinical picture is blurred, the symptoms are mild.
  3. Average. The child has an increase in size salivary glands, there are pronounced signs of poisoning of the body.
  4. Heavy. Symptoms of the pathology are expressed as intensely as possible, the child feels an acute malaise, work is disrupted internal organs leading to other characteristic features.

Complications and consequences

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

The most common negative consequences transferred disease are:

  • testicular atrophy, infertility in men;
  • chronic inflammation of the middle ear, which can lead to significant or total loss hearing;
  • 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 manifest themselves depending on the type of disease and the area of ​​\u200b\u200bdamage.

The first signs development of the disease are considered:

  • weakness and malaise;
  • pain in the muscles;
  • chills and a slight increase in body temperature;
  • lack of appetite;
  • sleep disturbance.

Over time, the clinical manifestations of the disease become more extensive, there are symptoms of intoxication, such as nausea, vomiting, a significant increase in temperature and increased headaches.

Temperature indicators depend on the severity of the disease. So, mild form characterized by an increase in temperature to subfebrile indicators.

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

characteristic feature- damage to the salivary glands, which is manifested by such symptoms as:

  1. Dry mouth.
  2. Pain in the ear area, with painful sensations aggravated by talking or chewing food.
  3. Enlargement of the tonsils and salivary glands, which become painful to the touch.
  4. Inflammatory process covering 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 lesion of the seminal glands in boys. In this case, symptoms such as pain in the area of ​​the gonad, 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. AT childhood this form of 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 the available signs.

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

In addition, the child is given immunofluorescent study to determine the type of pathogen.

Methods of treatment

How to treat a baby? Treatment requires not only taking medications, but also following a special lifestyle. In particular, the child is recommended bed rest for 7-10 days, as well as its complete isolation from other people.

It is important to observe the fluid intake regimen, the child must consume a warm drink in sufficient quantities.

Necessary dieting, the baby should not overeat, you should limit the consumption of flour products, fatty foods, white cabbage. The diet is based on dairy products, cereal cereals, potato dishes, rye bread.

Medications

Use of the necessary medicines - a prerequisite for 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 the gender of the child plays (in boys, the disease has a more severe course) as well as his age (the older the child, the higher the likelihood of complications).

Prevention

Protect the child from development such unpleasant disease as a pig it is not difficult, for this you need:

  1. Strengthen the immunity of the baby through the organization of a proper lifestyle and diet.
  2. Get vaccinated on time.
  3. Monitor compliance with sanitary standards in institutions visited by the child ( Kindergarten, school).

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

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

The disease most often develops in boys 3-7 years old may appear at a later 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.

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

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

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What it is? Mumps is an acute viral intoxication of the body caused by paramyxovirus mumps. In the people, the disease is known as mumps, since an infected person looks like this animal (see photo). In addition to mumps, paravixovirus infections include measles and parainfluenza.

The main route of entry of the virus is the upper respiratory tract (airborne droplets). Also, the disease can be transmitted by contact - through the personal items of an infected person (towel, toys, bedding, etc.).

  • Everyone can become infected with the mumps virus, but most often the pathology is detected in children, since their the immune system renders less active resistance than in adults.

According to studies, the percentage of infected people from contact with a patient with mumps is about 50%, that is, susceptibility to the virus is quite high.

The main period when the virus is most dangerous to others is 24-48 hours before the onset of the first symptoms and 10 days after the onset of the disease. Persons over 20 years of age in their majority (about 85%) have antibodies to the infection in their blood, which explains the insignificance of the spread of pathology among the adult population.

Symptoms of mumps, photo in children

parotitis photo in children

According to different medical sources, there is no generally accepted classification of forms of pathology. There are manifest forms (uncomplicated, complicated and depending on the severity of the course of the disease), inapparent forms and residual type phenomena provoked by the mumps virus (infertility, diabetes, testicular atrophy in men, malfunctions of the central nervous system, hearing impairment or loss).

Parotitis:

An acute viral disease is manifested by general intoxication of the body, fever, pathological disorders in the glandular organs, in particular, the parotid salivary glands (one or both). There are also malfunctions in the functioning of the central nervous system. Soreness in the parotid glands affected by the virus is aggravated by chewing and talking.

Incubation period mumps lasts from 11 to 23 days, after which the activated virus manifests itself with the following clinical signs:

  • general malaise and weakness;
  • excessive fatigue;
  • high temperature and fever (up to 39°C, in especially severe cases up to 40°C);
  • lack of appetite;
  • dryness in oral cavity;
  • aching pain in the ears and submandibular glands.

The clinical picture of mumps and its severity is different. Depending on the severity of painful manifestations, mumps is divided into 3 varieties:

  1. Light(atypical or erased) mumps - high temperature lasts no more than two days, the symptoms are mild, only the parotid salivary glands are slightly affected, the patient feels only a slight malaise;
  2. Medium heavy parotitis - in addition to the salivary glands, the remaining glands are affected, an increase in body temperature is observed for 3 to 6 days, there are severe headaches, sleep disorders and loss of appetite are observed;
  3. Heavy mumps - the temperature (up to 40 ° C) lasts about 7 days, the virus penetrates into the most important systems of the body, including the central nervous system, there is a strong swelling of the diseased glands and a pronounced clinical picture pigs.

Parotitis in children, features

Mumps most often occurs in children aged 3 to 15 years. Babies, like adults, are much less likely to become infected with the virus. Boys carry the disease 1.5 times more often than girls. The general symptoms of the disease in people of all ages are similar.

Mumps in children, the symptoms of which were not diagnosed in a timely manner, and appropriate prevention and therapy were not carried out, or treatment turned out to be late, can lead to serious complications: meningitis, encephalitis, arthritis, deafness, pancreatitis, infertility.

Paramyxovirus spreads throughout the glandular system, including the male gonads. This explains its danger to representatives of the strong half of humanity.

The consequences of parotitis in boys can be catastrophic: prostatitis, viral orchitis, epididymitis, and in the future - complete infertility. According to statistics, up to 30% of male patients with testicles affected by the virus suffer from dangerous pathologies.

Parotitis treatment - drugs, nutrition

photo, treatment of mumps in children

The main goal of disease therapy is prevention possible complications. Hospitalization is provided on the basis of epidemiological indicators, as well as for patients in whom the disease is severe.

  • In children's institutions in which a case of mumps infection was detected, quarantine is established for a period of 21 days. The usual treatment for mumps is done at home.

Doctors prescribe antibiotics, novocaine blockade, antihistamines and high calcium supplements. At high temperature and severe pain in the head, it is possible to take antipyretic and analgesic drugs.

Heavy, spicy, fried, floury, sweet and fatty foods, while the diet is significantly reduced. Children are shown a dairy and vegetable diet with a predominance of rice, rye bread, boiled potatoes, fresh fruits.

It is advisable to serve all dishes in a liquid or pureed form, since swallowing difficulties are most often observed (broths, puree soups, vegetable and fruit purees, liquid boiled cereals, soufflés). At mild form sick patients need to drink as much clean water as possible.

Warming the inflamed glands with compresses

Traditional healers claim that help from mumps is invaluable. On the swollen glands, gauze slightly soaked in warm camphor oil (several layers), a layer of parchment paper is applied and the head / neck is wrapped with a handkerchief or woolen scarf.

  • The procedure time is about 2.5 hours.

Since the inflamed parotid glands require additional warming, in the absence of high temperature recommended alternation of alcohol and camphor compresses.

Remember that an increase in body temperature of both an adult and a child is the strictest contraindication to any warming compresses.

Prevention - vaccination against mumps

Combined vaccination against measles, rubella, mumps is given to children under the age of 12 months. Vaccination is carried out for those patients whose parents have not abandoned the practice of performing preventive measures. Children who have reached the age of six are revaccinated.

  • As medical practice shows, vaccination reduces the risk of contracting the listed viral infections by up to 80%.

The reaction from vaccination is strictly individual, with the slightest complications, an urgent consultation of the observing pediatrician is required. Epidemic parotitis, its treatment and prevention is in the competence of doctors: therapists / pediatricians and infectious disease specialists. In general, experts say that the prognosis for the treatment of mumps virus is favorable.

Be healthy!

What is parotitis famous for? Among the people, it is mainly known under the simple name - mumps (another old name is mumps). Mothers in whose families there are boys are more afraid of the disease, not so much for its manifestations, but for possible severe complications. The infection is almost always tolerated favorably, but only if there are no serious consequences.

What is parotitis? Where does the infection come from, why is it dangerous? Is this disease curable and how to deal with it? How to determine that a person is infected if there are no manifestations of the disease? What can help the patient avoid complications?

General information

The first cases of mumps were described as early as the 5th century BC. e. Hippocrates. But it was only in the 20th century that it was possible to summarize all the information about the disease and reveal its true viral nature. In the middle of the last century, a vaccine was first used, but more successful versions of it against mumps were synthesized a little later.

The name - epidemic parotitis (parotitis epidemica) is not entirely correct, because there have not been cases of mass infection for a long time. Despite this, the incidence of mumps is growing every year, which has led to the need to observe the circulation of the virus in nature.

What is the nature of the virus?

  1. He is unstable in environment, parotitis is easy to neutralize with the help of ultraviolet irradiation, boiling and disinfectant treatment.
  2. The virus remains on objects for a long time low temperatures down to minus 70 ºC.
  3. The period of active reproduction of the microorganism is the end of winter and the beginning of spring.
  4. Despite the fact that immunity after the transferred acute illness considered lifelong, there are cases of re-infection with all the ensuing consequences.
  5. Typical manifestation infectious parotitis - an increase on one or both sides of the parotid salivary glands. But often the disease is asymptomatic, which contributes to the rapid spread of the virus among people.
  6. The infection is often recorded in children from 3 years to 15, but adults often get sick.
  7. Boys suffer from parotitis almost one and a half times more often than girls.

This disease is typical for childhood, but its manifestations often resemble the course of the most severe adult diseases.

What is parotitis

Parotitis is an acute infectious viral disease that develops more often in childhood, feature which is inflammation of the salivary glands. The favorite habitat of the virus is the glandular organs and nervous system, that is, in other words, manifestations such as pancreatitis, meningitis are natural processes due to the characteristics of the microorganism.

In nature, the virus circulates only among people, so a sick person can be the source of infection.

The main route of transmission is airborne, except for saliva, the virus can be transmitted through contaminated objects through urine. Parotitis in newborns occurs with a vertical route of infection or intrauterine from a sick mother. But if a woman has been ill with this viral infection before pregnancy, antibodies are transmitted to the baby that protect him for six months.

This is one of the most frequent viral infections that is common throughout the world, there is no region or country where there are no cases of infection.

Classification of mumps

According to the course of the disease, the infection is divided into the following degrees:

  • light;
  • average;
  • heavy.

The disease can occur with or without complications. There are cases of asymptomatic course, when there are no typical classic clinical manifestations, this form of infection is called inapparent.

In the literature, you can find another seemingly illogical term - non-infectious parotitis, which has nothing to do with viral disease. It occurs in case of injury or prolonged hypothermia, followed by inflammation of the parotid salivary glands of one or two.

How does the mumps virus behave in the human body

Once on the mucous membrane of the upper respiratory tract and the oral cavity, the virus gradually accumulates here, after which it penetrates into the bloodstream. With the blood stream, it is carried to the glandular organs. The parotid salivary glands are the first place of accumulation where mumps settles and begins to multiply actively. Here, as a rule, at the first stage of the development of infection, the maximum accumulation of cells.

Part of the microorganism enters other glandular organs and nervous tissue, but their inflammation does not always and immediately develop. More often, a phased lesion immediately occurs in the salivary glands, then the pancreas, testicles, nervous tissue, and so on. This is due to the multiplication of the virus in the salivary glands and their additional entry into the blood from there.

Symptoms of parotitis

The severity of the illness and organ involvement depends on the individual's immunity at the time. If the mumps virus has got into an absolutely healthy organism, it is threatened only with a mild or asymptomatic course of the disease. The situation will be complicated by a recent infection and lack of vaccination.

The first symptoms of infectious parotitis

The incubation period of parotitis is, according to various sources, from 11 days to over three weeks (23 days is the maximum). The peculiarity of the disease is that there is no prodromal period or it lasts only 1-3 days.

The classic version of acute parotitis occurs with the following symptoms.

This is the first line of attack of the mumps virus or visible symptoms, which develop in most cases and contribute to the correct diagnosis. Inflammation of the glands gradually decreases and by the end of the first, middle of the second week, with the normal course of the disease, it no longer bothers the person. In the case of a mild course (including asymptomatic), all of the above symptoms will not be, and parotitis in its manifestations resembles only a mild acute viral infection.

Late symptoms of complicated parotitis

As the number of viral cells in the blood increases, the likelihood of other glands being involved in inflammation increases. In turn, with a severe and complicated course of mumps, infection of important organs occurs, which can affect the functions of the human body in the future.

The severe course of mumps in children is accompanied by:

What happens to other organs?

Long-term effects of mumps

The basis of the defeat of the glands is not only inflammation of the tissue of the organ itself, but also the thickening of its secret, what the gland produces. Additionally, the excretory ducts become inflamed, which complicates the very process of secretion secretion. It affects the surrounding systems. Therefore, one of the dangerous moments associated with mumps is the defeat of neighboring organs and severe complications in the future.

What problems arise through long time after mumps?

The disease is acute with complications, chronic parotitis is more often with other causes of damage to the parotid salivary glands (non-infectious nature or other viral infections).

Diagnosis of viral parotitis

It would seem that absolutely every doctor can diagnose mumps. After the incubation period, it does not present any difficulties. Enlarged parotid glands are already half of the exact diagnosis. But not everything is so simple. Inflammation of the salivary glands can be a sign of other diseases, and a mild or asymptomatic course of mumps will prevent proper and timely diagnosis.

What helps to make a diagnosis?

Additionally, the affected organs are examined using special instrumental methods.

Parotitis treatment

The main rule of treatment is the isolation of a person from others and a home regimen. This will help prevent further infection. Hospitalization is carried out only in case of a severe form of infectious parotitis or when complications appear.

In the treatment of parotitis, the main thing is to follow a few rules.

Prevention of viral parotitis

In addition to the standard rules, according to the temporary isolation of the patient for 9 days, all children are vaccinated against mumps as a preventive measure. This is an active prevention of diseases caused by the virus.

The vaccine is used - live, attenuated, which is injected subcutaneously under the shoulder blade or into the outer part of the shoulder at a dose of 0.5 ml once.

When is the mumps vaccine given? Under normal conditions, children are vaccinated at 12 months. The vaccine includes antibodies against measles and rubella. Revaccination is prescribed at the age of 6, which contributes to the production of protective cells against mumps by almost 100%. In case of violation of the schedule or refusal of vaccination in childhood, vaccination is given to everyone, and revaccination with a monovaccine should be carried out at least 4 years later.

What are the mumps vaccines?

  1. Monovaccines - "Imovax Oreyon", "Cultural mumps vaccine live".
  2. Divaccine - "Vaccine mumps-measles cultural live."
  3. Three-component vaccines - MMR, Priorix, Ervevax, Trimovax.

Infectious mumps is caused by only one causative agent of the virus, which is common in all countries. The mild course of mumps is sometimes deceptive, and the consequences are horrific and irreparable. Timely detection of parotitis and treatment under the supervision of doctors helps to reduce the likelihood of such complications, and early vaccination will help to avoid the disease altogether.

Chronic nonspecific parotitis (sialadenitis) is a very common pathology among children and the elderly. You can consider in detail what the specified disease is, what are the causes of its occurrence and symptoms, the main methods of treatment.

To produce saliva, which is necessary for active participation in the processes of digestion, there are 3 pairs of salivary glands in the human body:

  • sublingual;
  • submandibular;
  • parotid.

The inflammatory process leading to the defeat of the parotid salivary glands is called mumps. Pathogenic microorganisms that cause this disease can enter the gland in the following ways:

  • lymphogenous;
  • hematogenous;
  • from the oral cavity through the parotid duct;
  • from a nearby focus of inflammation (teeth, ears, eyes).

Mumps can be specific or non-specific. The indicated disease of a specific type is associated with syphilis, tuberculosis, actinomycosis, is extremely rare and requires separate consideration. Depending on the nature of the course, parotitis can be acute or chronic.

Chronic sialadenitis of a non-specific nature is an independent primary disease that is not associated with an epidemic component. In rare cases, it may be the result acute inflammation. An ailment also occurs if streptococci and staphylococci remain in the human body after suffering an acute inflammatory process of the parotid salivary glands in childhood, which, under certain conditions, have become active.

The etiology of nonspecific parotitis is still actively discussed by medical scientists. Presumably, the cause of the disease is considered to be a congenital failure of the salivary gland tissue with reduced immunity. Pathology is almost always asymmetric unilateral.

The inflammatory process in nonspecific sialadenitis can affect the parenchyma, stroma, or excretory ducts of the parotid salivary gland.

Symptoms and complications

An important feature chronic nonspecific parotitis is the cyclical nature of its course: the phases of exacerbation are replaced by relative calm.

During exacerbations of the disease observed:

  • swelling in the area of ​​the parotid salivary gland;
  • pain when pressed or chewed;
  • secretion of cloudy viscous saliva from the ducts of the organ, and then purulent contents;
  • unpleasant taste in the mouth;
  • feeling of fullness in the ears;
  • decrease in saliva volume;
  • increase in body temperature;
  • general malaise.

In the period of remission, the patient's well-being improves: pain subsides, other symptoms of the disease become less pronounced.

Chronic sialadenitis is characterized by proliferation of the connective tissue of the parotid salivary gland, compression of the parenchyma and subsequently its atrophy. In this regard, there is a violation of the functionality of the body, a decrease in the secretion of saliva, damage to the mucous membranes of the oral cavity. Serious Complications diseases are expressed in the formation of fistulas, abscesses, phlegmon of the parotid region, irreversible deafness and other negative consequences.

Diagnosis and treatment of chronic inflammation of the parotid gland

To make a correct diagnosis, determine the severity of the disease, the doctor conducts a thorough diagnosis, which includes:

  • medical history and complaints of the patient;
  • visual inspection;
  • survey non-contrast radiography;
  • Ultrasound of the parotid salivary gland;
  • CT or MRI;
  • radiosialography;
  • sialometry;
  • sialoscintiography;
  • cytological and bacteriological analyzes of the damaged organ separated from the ducts;
  • enzyme immunoassay.

A differential delimitation of parotitis from others similar in clinical signs diseases (lymphadenitis, malignant or benign tumors etc.).

It should immediately be noted that chronic parotitis cannot be completely eliminated. Untimely access to a specialist or improperly performed treatment can cause irreversible pathological changes in the parotid gland and lead to its necrotic state.

The goals of the treatment are:

  • elimination of the inflammatory process;
  • relief of pain;
  • relapse prevention;
  • increased reactivity of the body;
  • improving the functionality of the salivary gland.

Medical therapy includes:

  • antibiotics;
  • trimekainovye and novocaine blockade;
  • proteolytic enzymes;
  • antiseptic treatment of the oral cavity;
  • galantamine to enhance the functioning of the gland, etc.

At chronic course pathology beneficial effect The patient is given a course of physiotherapy, which includes:

  • longitudinal body galvanization
  • salivary gland massage;
  • fluctuorization;
  • electrophoresis.

In advanced cases, apply surgical treatment the affected parotid gland up to its complete removal (extirpation).

Conclusion

Thus, parotitis of a nonspecific chronic nature is dangerous with serious complications. To improve the state of health in this disease, it is necessary to constantly visit the attending physician and follow all his recommendations.

among the people viral infection under the name "mumps" is known as mumps or mumps. According to statistics, a child, no matter whether it is a boy or a girl, endures the disease much more easily than an adult. You can become infected with mumps by contact or airborne droplets. Epidemic parotitis in children often occurs in the spring, and the first symptoms and signs of the disease may occur only 12 days after infection. For the most part, mumps proceeds without consequences, but in 5 cases out of 1000 it gives very serious complications.

What is parotitis in children

Respiratory viral infection parotitis (ICD-10 code - B26) is a danger due to the high risk of infection. Although mumps does not pose a threat to life, complications of the disease can lead to organ damage. The greatest incidence persists from 3 to 6 years. After an infection, a stable lifelong immunity is formed. Infection is characterized by seasonality - the peak incidence occurs in the spring, at the end of summer the disease is almost not recorded.

The causative agent of mumps

You can become infected with mumps through close contact with a sick person. The causative agent of mumps is the RNA virus Parotits epidemica, which has an irregular spherical shape. In the external environment, it is relatively stable: at room temperature it lasts for several days, and at minus temperatures - up to six months. The mumps virus has specific mechanisms of tissue damage:

  • with hemagglutinating activity, it causes swelling of the parotid glands and the formation of microthrombi in the capillaries;
  • with hemolytic activity destroys blood cells;
  • neuraminidase activity facilitates the penetration of viral particles into the cell, promotes their reproduction.

How infection occurs

Mumps disease in children often affects the nervous system and glandular organs. The virus enters the body through the mucous membranes of the throat and nose. First, it settles on the surface of cells, destroys them, and then penetrates into the blood vessels, spreading throughout the body. If the mumps disease develops in boys, then simultaneously with the nervous and glandular tissues, the testicles and prostate can be affected, if in girls, then the disease affects the ovaries. Along with this, there may be a general allergization of the body, which lasts several years after recovery.

Incubation period

Mumps in a child begins acutely. From the moment of infection with the virus to the onset of the disease in children, it takes from 12 to 22 days, in adults - 11-35 days. In some children, 1-2 days before the onset of symptoms, prodromal phenomena are observed: muscle and headaches, dry mouth, discomfort in the parotid salivary glands. The fever may last for a week.

Symptoms of parotitis

The severity of the disease depends on the state of immunity in children. If the virus has entered a healthy body, then it is threatened with an asymptomatic or mild course of the disease. The situation will be greatly complicated by the lack of vaccination against mumps or a shortly transferred other infection. What are the main symptoms of mumps in children:

  • prodromal period: lethargy, apathy, weakness, causeless drowsiness;
  • during the reproduction of the virus, the salivary parotid glands swell;
  • there is a sharp increase in body temperature to 38–40 degrees, symptoms of intoxication of the body appear, as with influenza or SARS;
  • simultaneously with swelling of the parotid glands, the child feels their soreness;
  • the submandibular, sublingual glands become inflamed, swelling and redness of the tonsils are observed;
  • in the case of unilateral inflammation, pain occurs when chewing.

Boys

In older boys of school age in inflammatory process other organs may be involved. Orchitis (testicular disease) and prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate gland) are often observed. With orchitis, one testicle swells more often. The skin on the scrotum becomes red and warm to the touch. With prostatitis, the pathology is localized in the perineum. During a rectal examination, a small patient feels acute pain, the doctor determines a tumor-like formation.

Symptoms of nonspecific parotitis

Sialadenitis (chronic non-specific mumps of a non-infectious nature) is a very common pathology in children. This is an independent disease that is not associated with an epidemiological component. An important feature of the disease is the cyclical course: relative calm is replaced by an exacerbation phase, in which the following symptoms are observed:

  • pain when chewing;
  • swelling in the area of ​​the salivary parotid gland;
  • unpleasant taste in the mouth;
  • the allocation of cloudy viscous saliva or pus with purulent mumps;
  • decrease in saliva volume;
  • feeling of fullness in the ears;
  • increase in body temperature.

The first signs of mumps in children

The main danger of mumps is that the first signs appear a week after infection, and the child is considered healthy all this time, infecting others at the same time. The disease develops rapidly. The first signs of mumps:

  • loss of appetite, refusal to eat;
  • feeling of general malaise;
  • attempts to open the mouth are accompanied by severe soreness behind the ears.

Classification of mumps

The course of mumps takes place in various clinical forms. Since there is no generally accepted classification of the disease, doctors use another variation of it:

  • manifest: complicated (with meningitis, arthritis, nephritis and others) and uncomplicated form, when only the salivary glands are affected;
  • residual, developing against the background of mumps: deafness, CNS disorders, testicular atrophy, infertility, diabetes;
  • inapparat variety (virus carrier).

Complications of the disease

Often the consequence of mumps is inflammation of the pancreas, thyroid or gonads. Other complications of mumps in children:

  • inflammation of the meninges (with meningitis manifested);
  • inflammation of the testicles (orchitis);
  • hearing loss, sometimes leading to complete deafness;
  • inflammation of the joints;
  • prostatitis;
  • oophoritis;
  • nephritis;
  • thrombocytopenic purpura;
  • myocarditis.

Diagnostics

With a typical course of the disease, the diagnosis is clear to the doctor already when examining the child. To confirm the viral nature of mumps, additional laboratory research. In the asymptomatic course of the disease, the following tests are especially important:

  • detection of antibodies;
  • blood test for CPR to identify the pathogen;
  • a set of analyzes to assess the work of internal organs.

Treatment of mumps in children

The main rule in treatment is to isolate patients from others. Therapy is carried out at home with bed rest. The child is placed in the hospital only with a severe form of mumps. An important stage of therapy is a diet, in which the advantage is given to a sparing diet of stews or boiled dishes. Antipyretics and painkillers are used for treatment. medications. Antibiotics are not prescribed, but the child is prescribed a course of physiotherapy. In severe cases of the disease, all prescribed drugs are administered intravenously through a dropper.

Drug therapy

It is possible to remove inflammation of the salivary glands in uncomplicated mumps in children complex therapy in which the following drugs are used:

  1. Nurofen suspension. It has anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, analgesic effect. Assign to children from 3 months. According to the instructions, at one time you need from 5 to 10 mg / kg of the baby's weight. The frequency and duration of treatment is prescribed by the doctor. The average dose is 5 ml of syrup every 7 hours until the symptoms disappear. Overdose may cause side effects from the gastrointestinal tract: nausea, vomiting, epigastric pain.
  2. Groprinosin. Tablets with antiviral and immunostimulating action. Dosage - 50 mg / kg of body weight per day. Drink should be in 3-4 doses for 7-10 days. In case of an overdose, the concentration of uric acid in the serum of urine and blood may increase.

Diet food

If a child has inflamed salivary glands, it is difficult for him to chew, so a sparing diet is indicated. With parotitis, it is better to give preference to liquid porridge, pureed soup and plenty of drink (herbal infusions, plain water). After each meal, you need to rinse your mouth with a solution of furacilin or soda. From the menu it is necessary to exclude cabbage, white bread, pasta, fats, sour juices. Products that will help you recover faster:

  • liquid pureed soup in chicken broth;
  • any liquid porridge;
  • mashed potatoes;
  • steam cutlets;
  • chicken meat;
  • fruits and vegetables in the form of purees or puddings;
  • steam / boiled fish;
  • dairy;
  • seeds, nuts, legumes.

Hospitalization of patients

If the mumps disease in children is severe, when other glandular organs and the nervous system are involved in the process, then hospitalization is prescribed. They can be sent to the hospital if the child lives in unfavorable social conditions, in a family hostel or in an orphanage to prevent infection of other people. When parotitis is introduced into institutions, vaccination is carried out for all unvaccinated and unill children.

From the moment of the last sick person in schools, kindergartens and children's homes, a 21-day quarantine is imposed. Vaccination is not mandatory, but is recommended, because vaccination not only protects against the disease, but also facilitates the course of infection if the child was vaccinated already in incubation period. Revaccination is prescribed 4 years after the first vaccination, which contributes to the production of specific antibodies by the body, which prevent re-infection of mumps by 100%.

Prevention of mumps in children

In addition to standard preventive measures, isolation of the patient for 9 days is important. As the main prophylaxis, a vaccine is used, which is injected subcutaneously into the outer part of the shoulder or under the shoulder blade once at a dose of 0.5 ml. The vaccine also includes antibodies against rubella and measles. Mumps vaccines:

  • monovaccines: Mumps cultural live vaccine, Imovax Orion;
  • divaccine: Live mumps-measles vaccine;
  • three-component: Trimovax, Ervevax, Priorix, MMR.

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