Mumps (Parotitis Epidemica): Examination

A comprehensive clinical examination is the basis for selecting further diagnostic steps:

  • General physical examination – including blood pressure, pulse, body temperature, body weight, body height; furthermore:
    • Inspection (viewing).
      • Skin, mucous membranes and sclerae (white part of the eye).
    • Inspection and palpation (palpation) of the neck [swelling of the parotid (parotid gland) unilateral or bilateral possible].
    • Inspection and palpation of the thyroid gland [thyroiditis (inflammation of the thyroid gland)?]
    • Auscultation (listening) of the heart [due topossible secondary disease: myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle)]
    • Examination of the genitals
      • Male (urological examination):
        • Inspection and palpation of the genitals (penis and scrotum (scrotum); assessment of pubescence (pubic hair), penis (penile length: between 7-10 cm when flaccid; presence of: Indurations (tissue hardening), anomalies, phimosis / foreskin stenosis?) as well as the testicular position; if necessary, the painfulness compared to the opposite side or where is the punctum maximum of pain) [orchitis (testicular inflammation) – especially in men who fall ill after puberty].
      • Woman (gynecological examination):
        • Inspection
          • Vulva (external, primary female sex organs), vagina (vagina).
          • Cervix uteri (cervix), or portio (cervix; transition from the cervix (cervix uteri) to the vagina (vagina)), if necessary, taking a Pap smear (for early detection of cervical cancer).
        • Palpation (bimanual; palpation with both hands) of the internal genital organs:
          • Cervix uteri (cervix).
          • Uterus (uterus) [Normal: anteflexed/angled anteriorly, normal size, no tenderness].
          • Adnexa (appendages of the uterus, i.e., the ovary and uterine tube). [Normal: free; here possibly oophoritis (ovarian inflammation)]
          • Parametria (pelvic connective tissue in front of the cervix to the urinary bladder and on both sides to the lateral pelvic wall) [Normal: free].
          • Pelvic walls [Normal: free]
          • Douglas space (pocket-like bulge of the peritoneum (abdominal wall) between the rectum (rectum) at the back and the uterus (uterus) at the front) [Normal: clear].
        • Examination of the mammae (breasts)
          • Inspection of the mammae (breasts), right and left; nipple (breast), right and left; and skin [Normal: unremarkable].
          • Palpation of the mammae, both supraclavicular pits (upper clavicular pits) and axillae (axillae) [Normal: unremarkable; In adulthood: female mastitis (mastitis) (30%)?]
    • Palpation (palpation) of the abdomen (abdomen) (tenderness?, knocking pain?, coughing pain?, defensive tension?, hernial orifices?, renal bearing knocking pain?) [Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)?
  • Ophthalmologic examination [due topossible sequelae: Inflammation of the eyes, dacryoadenitis (lacrimal gland inflammation)]
  • Gynecological examination in existing pregnancy [due topossible sequelae: abortion (miscarriage)].
  • ENT medical examination [due topossible sequelae: sensorineural hearing loss].
  • Neurological examination [due topossible sequelae:
  • Urological examination [due topossible secondary diseases:
    • Epididymitis (inflammation of the epididymis).
    • Mastitis (inflammation of the mammary glands)
    • Nephritis (inflammation of the kidneys)
    • Oophoritis (ovarian inflammation)
    • Orchitis (testicular inflammation) – can lead to male sterility after puberty]

Square brackets [ ] indicate possible pathological (pathological) physical findings.