Mumps, parotitis epidemica or goat peter is an infectious disease caused by viruses. It is a common and typical childhood disease, along with measles and rubella. It is highly contagious and should be examined by a doctor immediately. Vaccination against mumps is highly advisable.
What is mumps?
Mumps Ziegenpeter, or parotitis epidemica, is a viral disease that appears primarily on the basis of painful swellings on and under the ears and a severe fever. Less frequently, the disease also affects other organs, such as the testicles, pancreas, brain or heart. Like many other childhood illnesses, mumps is reportable and therefore should be examined by a physician.
Causes
The main cause of mumps is the so-called mumps virus. This infection, which can only occur in humans, is a typical childhood disease. Mumps is transmitted via droplet infection. Typical forms of transmission are coughing, sneezing, kissing and direct physical contact. Drinking from an infected bottle or using cutlery with mumps viruses can also be contagious. The incubation period, i.e. the time from infection to the outbreak of the disease, is around three to seven days. After that, the first symptoms appear. The swelling of the salivary glands is clearly visible due to their size. Each person who has once been ill with mumps is then immune to it for life.
Symptoms, complaints and signs
In about 30 to 40 percent of cases, mumps (parotitis epidemica) is asymptomatic. However, they are carriers of the disease and thus can infect other people. The most common symptoms of mumps are fever, as well as painful swelling of the parotid glands, which takes the form of characteristic hamster cheeks and can cause pain when chewing. The swelling usually develops after one to two days and usually occurs on both sides (about 70 to 80 percent of those with the disease). In some cases, other salivary glands, as well as the lymph nodes near the ear, may also be affected. Other symptoms, which occur especially in the earlier stages of the disease, are loss of appetite, malaise, as well as headaches and aching limbs. In children, the symptoms are usually less pronounced than in adults. Mumps can lead to various secondary diseases in the further course. These include in particular meningitis (meningitis), meningoencephalitis (brain inflammation), hearing loss or even deafness, and in adolescents and adults inflammation of the testicles, which can lead to infertility in 13 percent of cases. In rare cases, inflammation of the pancreas, ovaries, thyroid gland, joints, and mammary glands may also occur.
Course of the disease
Mumps usually develops without complications. In most cases, symptoms disappear on their own after about one to two weeks. Often, the mumps disease is accompanied by meningitis (inflammation of the brain). However, this can be treated quickly with medical treatment. Complications with mumps occur rather rarely. Only rarely does the combination of mumps and meningitis result in an inflammation that can lead to lifelong hearing loss. Nevertheless, under certain circumstances, untreated mumps disease in men can lead to testicular inflammation and thus infertility. Pregnant women suffering from mumps can possibly expect a miscarriage. Therefore, medical help should be sought as soon as possible, especially if pregnant.
Complications
The most common complication in children suffering from mumps is non-purulent meningitis, which occurs in five to fifteen percent of cases. The most important symptoms are neck pain and headaches. Those affected are usually unable to rest their chin on their chest. As the disease progresses, vomiting, dizziness and paralysis occur. Meningitis can occur even if the patient has previously received medical treatment. Another very rare side effect is deafness in one or both ears. Often this occurs only in the form of hearing loss, which is why a precautionary examination is recommended. In male patients, orchitis may occur if the mumps also affects the testicles. This leads to a renewed increase in fever and painful swelling of the affected testicles. There is a risk of infertility as a late consequence, but this is very rare.In women, the ovaries can become inflamed in about five percent of cases, with symptoms such as lower abdominal pain and fever. Inflammation of the pancreas, also known as pancreatitis, is also possible. Pregnant women affected by mumps disease are at increased risk for miscarriage. However, if the unborn child survives, no permanent damage has been demonstrated.
When should you see a doctor?
To protect against mumps, vaccination of the infant should take place early. Since the disease is very contagious, contact with other children can otherwise quickly lead to an outbreak of the disease. If a case of mumps becomes known in the immediate environment of the affected person, a visit to the doctor should always be made as a precaution. In case of fever, pain and behavioral abnormalities of the affected person, a doctor should be consulted. Headache and pain in the limbs are signs of an irregularity that should be investigated and clarified. Swelling of the face is characteristic of mumps. If hamster cheeks or a sudden roundish change in the shape of the face are noticed, a visit to the doctor is necessary. If the swellings increase in size within a short time, acute action is required. A general malaise, apathy or a refusal to eat are further signs of a health impairment. If hearing loss or deafness occurs, a doctor is needed. If there is inflammation, changes in skin appearance, or disturbances in chewing, a doctor should be consulted. Dizziness, paralysis or vomiting should be presented to a doctor. Mumps is a childhood disease that typically occurs in the first years of life when vaccination has not occurred. Because the disease can also break out in adults, they should also see a doctor if any irregularities or symptoms develop.
Treatment and therapy
Treatment of mumps mainly focuses on therapy and diagnosis of parotitis, also popularly known as hamster cheeks. Other examination options include: Blood test, urine test, throat swab, saliva test and possibly tissue samples. To date, there are no specialized forms of treatment or medication for mumps, although this is often not necessary. Treatment by the physician is usually limited to alleviating the symptoms of the disease. Above all, painkillers and fever-reducing medications are part of the standard therapy for mumps or goat’s peter. If the mumps disease is coupled with meningitis, further examination and treatment in hospital is usually necessary. The affected person should keep to strict bed rest. Likewise, care should be taken not to infect other people with the mumps virus. Furthermore, the patient should drink plenty of fluids to compensate for the loss of fluids due to the fever. Cool compresses on the affected areas is also beneficial. The diet during the period of illness should consist increasingly of mushy food. Foods that unnecessarily burden the pancreas with their acids should be avoided. Likewise, attention should be paid to good oral hygiene.
Outlook and prognosis
In the case of infection with mumps, the prognosis depends largely on the age of the infected person. While infections in children under two years of age are often largely asymptomatic, the incidence of complications increases sharply with increasing age. Overall, men are more frequently affected by complications than women. Occasionally, even vaccinated persons can become infected with mumps. In this case, the course of the disease is usually weakened. The most frequent complications in men are inflammation of the testicles (orchitis) and associated temporary, widespread sterility. Permanent sterility, however, is rare. The testicular inflammation lasts up to ten days, after which a slow normalization of sperm count and quality takes place. A common complication in women is inflammation of the breast (mastitis), which usually heals on its own without consequences. More rarely, ovarian inflammation also occurs. Pancreatitis can occur in both sexes. Very often, the central nervous system is affected in both sexes, but usually without concrete symptoms. Even with encephalitis, which occurs in less than 1% of mumps cases, the prognosis is favorable. Of those affected, about 98.5% survive. Rarely, however, this may result in permanent deafness.Generally, in most cases a mumps infection is symptomatically over within five to ten days. Permanent damage can occur, but is very rare.
Prevention
The best prevention against mumps is vaccination. Normally, babies or young children are vaccinated against the typical childhood diseases as early as 11 months of age. These include measles, mumps and rubella. A booster vaccination is then given again in the 6th year of life. After that, the children are immune for years. A vaccination in adulthood is of course still possible.
Aftercare
Mumps follow-up care ensures that the virus is no longer present in the body. The physician first takes a medical history and clarifies any symptoms the patient may have and his or her general condition. This is followed by a physical examination. An examination of the parotid gland determines whether the disease has receded. The upper abdomen and meninges are also examined if there is any suspicion that the disease has spread. If the doctor finds no abnormalities, the treatment is completed after the follow-up. Further follow-up examinations are not necessary if the course of the disease is positive. If necessary, the competent authority must be informed about the recovery, as mumps is a notifiable disease. Affected persons should continue to take it easy for one to two weeks after recovery. The doctor will specify exact measures that can be used to completely cure the mumps. If symptoms persist, treatment will be resumed. Follow-up care must be interrupted in this case. Mumps follow-up is usually one to two weeks after the first visit to the doctor, provided that the disease subsides as desired and no further symptoms or complaints occur.
What you can do yourself
If the child shows signs of mumps, the pediatrician should be consulted first. The typical symptoms can be alleviated by various home remedies. In case of fever, calf compresses or cooling compresses with curd or yogurt help. The so-called vinegar socks also help – socks soaked in vinegar essence and cold water, which are pulled over the feet. A swelling of the glands is also counteracted with compresses. Healing clay from the pharmacy can also be used to reduce swelling and pain. Warm oil compresses and bed rest also help with swollen parotid glands. Provided sufficient rest and bed warmth, mumps usually subsides quickly. Parents should ensure that the child does not spend too much time outdoors and is not exposed to stress. Should complications nevertheless arise, it is best to take the child to the pediatrician, who can examine the patient again and initiate further treatment measures if necessary. Due to the high risk of infection, sick children should not come into contact with healthy children. Accompanying these measures, the child must be vaccinated against mumps. Vaccination can reliably prevent renewed infection. Since the disease can cause complications with increasing age, vaccination should be repeated regularly.
