The use of the herb Indian aloe is a wellknown remedy in the indigenous system of medicine for any inflamed and painful part of the body. A piece of a leaf of this herb should be peeled on one side, warmed and then sprinkled with a little turmeric (haldi) and the extract of Indian barbery (rasaut), and then bandaged over the swelling.
Symptoms may be relieved by the application of intermittent ice or heat to the affected neck area, acetaminophen, oral for pain relief (do not give aspirin to children with a viral illness because of the risk of Reye's syndrome). Warm salt water gargles, soft foods, and extra fluids may also help relieve symptoms.
Persons with mumps should drink plenty of fluids, get bed rest, and take medicine to control fever. Warm moist towels can help relieve the discomfort of the swelling. Children with mumps should be kept home from school or day care until 9 days after the swelling begins, or until the swelling goes away.
Bed rest, plenty to drink and paracetamol for the fever and pain are the only recommended measures. Application of cold packs over the enlarged glands may help to decrease the discomfort. The patient is usually infectious from about 1 week before symptoms appear until about 4 days after the swelling occurs. To prevent the illness, mumps vaccine is given together with the measles and rubella between the ages of 1 and 2. A booster dose is given just before starting school. The vaccine can also be given to adults if needed.
Mumps is preventable by immunization. All children should be vaccinated to protect themselves and others from mumps. The mumps vaccine is part of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine series given to children beginning at 12 months of age. As is the case with all immunizations, there are important exceptions and special circumstances. Health-care providers should have the most current information on recommendations about the mumps vaccination.
Most people recover from mumps without any long-term problems. In rare cases, long-term problems, including deafness, can result. Unfortunately, there is no treatment for mumps that can prevent related complications.
Mumps is caused by a virus, antibiotics aren't effective. Like most viral illnesses, a mumps infection must simply run its course. Fortunately, most children and adults recover from an uncomplicated case of mumps within two weeks.
Treatment includes analgesics for pain, antipyretics for fever, and adequate fluid intake to prevent dehydration from fever and anorexia. If the patient cannot swallow, I.V. fluid replacement may be used.
Acetaminophen or ibuprofen are commonly used to reduce fever and relieve discomfort. Bed rest is advised for the duration of the fever. Ice packs or heating pads may ease the pain of swollen glands.
There is no specific treatment for mumps. Ice or heat packs applied to the neck area and with acetaminophen (Tylenol) may help relieve pain. Do not give aspirin to children with a viral illness because of the risk of Reye's syndrome. Warm salt water gargles, soft foods, and extra fluids may also help relieve symptoms.
Pain relievers may be used for comfort. For most children, the swelling in their glands goes away in a week. Any child with mumps should not return to school or day care for 9 days after the start of parotid swelling.
If you have mumps, you should be kept out of school or work for 7 - 10 days after symptoms begin, as you are considered highly contagious during that period. You should eat soft foods, avoid acidic foods and beverages, such as citrus or tomato products, and take pain relievers as needed. A male with swollen testicles should rest in bed until symptoms subside. Pain may be relieved with ice packs, or by supporting the scrotum with cotton or gauze, or an athletic supporter. A health care provider may perform a hearing test on young children who develop mumps, to detect any possible loss of hearing. If the patient develops pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) with nausea and vomiting, the provider may administer IV fluids. Please see the monograph on Pancreatitis for further information.
