Mumps is caused when there glands are invaded by a virus. And it is spread almost entirely by direct contact with a person who is infected. The virus is present in the saliva and in the secretions of the nose.
Everybody knows what a person with the mumps looks like: there is a swelling about the ears and the jaws. The swelling appears first on one side and then the other. This is often the first recognizable symptom of the disease. There may also be a sudden rise in body temperature, to about 40 degrees centigrade, and headache and vomiting.
Mumps is primarily a disease of children and young adults, though; in rare cases it occurs in adults. Children usually get it between the ages of five and fifteen, and especially between the ages of seven and nine.
In almost all cases, after a person has had one attack of mumps he is immune to the disease.
Among children, mumps is considered to be a harmless disease if it is detected early and if there is proper treatment. And there is very little medical attention necessary except in severe or complicated cases. The patient is usually required to rest in bed as long as the glands are swollen and there is fever.
Because mumps spreads from one person to another, patients are usually quarantined to control the disease.
Everybody knows what a person with the mumps looks like: there is a swelling about the ears and the jaws. The swelling appears first on one side and then the other. This is often the first recognizable symptom of the disease. There may also be a sudden rise in body temperature, to about 40 degrees centigrade, and headache and vomiting.
Mumps is primarily a disease of children and young adults, though; in rare cases it occurs in adults. Children usually get it between the ages of five and fifteen, and especially between the ages of seven and nine.
In almost all cases, after a person has had one attack of mumps he is immune to the disease.
Among children, mumps is considered to be a harmless disease if it is detected early and if there is proper treatment. And there is very little medical attention necessary except in severe or complicated cases. The patient is usually required to rest in bed as long as the glands are swollen and there is fever.
Because mumps spreads from one person to another, patients are usually quarantined to control the disease.
