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Mumps or Parotitis is an acute communicable
disease of viral origin. It is characterised by painful
enlargement of the salivary glands and occassional
involvement of the gonads, meninges, pancreas and other
organs. This disease occurs more frequently in children
between the ages of five and 15 years. It spreads from
one child to another in schools. Babies are immune to
this disease.
One attack of mumps will give immunity for life , except
in rare cases. One person in ten may have a second
attack. The disease is endemic in urban communities.
Epidemics are relatively frequent and are confined to
closely associated groups who live in orphanages, army
camps or schools. The incidence of clinical mumps is
higher in boys than in girls.Symptoms
The onset of
typical parotitis is usually sudden. It may be preceded
by lack of appetite , chilly sensation, feverishness,
sore throat and tenderness at the angle of the jaw. The
pain is first felt under one ear with stiffness of the
neck and jaw. There is a slight fever which subsides in
three or four days. The swelling appears first under one
jaw and then extends under the other jaw. The gland
becomes tender on pressure. On account of the pressure of
the swelling, the patient feels much difficulty in
talking, in mastication and swallowing of food.
Causes
Mumps are caused
by a virus which attacks the salivary glands of the
mouth, particularly the parotid glands located on each
side of the face just below and in front of the ear. The
infecting organism is paramyxovirus. After a person is
exposed to a case of the mumps, it takes about two weeks
for the disease to appear. Improper diet is the root
cause of trouble.
Treatment
The child-patient
should take bedrest for several days until the
temperature returns to normal. He should be kept on a
diet of fruit juices and other liquid foods. Orange juice
diluted with warm water on 50 : 50 basis for few days
will be especially beneficial. Other fruits and
vegetables which can be used for juices are mosambi,
apple, pineapple, grapes, and carrot. The child should be
encouraged to take warm-wter enema daily duirng this
period. Hot and cold fomentations should be applied after
every two hours during the day for about 10 minutes, and
should consist of two or three hot applications, followed
by a cold one. The face should be cleaned with an
antiseptic wash.
The patient should adopt an all fruit diet for a day or
two, till the swelling has subsided and he can swallow
food comfortably. Thereafter, he may gradually embark
upon a well-balanced diet of natural foods, with emphasis
on fresh fruits, raw and lightly- cooked vegetables and
whole grain cereals.
Certain home remedies have been found beneficial in the
treatment of mumps. The most important of these is the
use of chebulic myrobalan ( Harad or haritaki). A thick
paste should be made from this herb by rubbing in water
and applied over the swelling. It will give relief.
The leaves of peepal tree are also used as an effective
home remedy for this disease. These leaves should be
smeared with ghee and warmed over a fire. They should
then be bandanged over the inflammed part.
The use of the herb Indian aloe (ghee kunwar or musabbar
) is a well known remedy for inflammed and painful part
of the body. A part of a leaf of this herb should be
peeled on one side and sprinkled with a mixture of
turmeric (haldi) and extract of Indian barberry (rasaut)
and bandaged over the swelling after warming.
The seeds of asparagus (halon) are also valuable in
mumps. The seeds combined with the seeds of fenugreek
(methi) should be ground together to the consistency of a
paste. This paste can be applied over the swelling.
The use of dry ginger (saunth) is considered beneficial
in the treatment of mumps. It should be ground to a paste
and applied over the swollen parts. As the paste dries,
the swelling will reduce and the pain will also subside.
The leaves of margosa (neem) are also useful in the
treatment of mumps.The leaves of this tree with little
turmeric (haldi) should be ground into a paste and
applied externally over the affected parts. It will bring
good results.
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