Parotitis in adults: what is dangerous and how to deal with it

Mumps is considered a childhood disease and is perceived by many as a mild infectious disease with the amusing alternative name mumps. - due to a characteristic symptom in the form of swelling of the parotid salivary glands. However, adults may also develop this disease if, for some reason, the body's defenses are weakened or the appropriate vaccination was not carried out in childhood. Parotitis in adults often occurs with severe symptoms of intoxication and may be accompanied by serious complications, including those leading to the development of male infertility.

How parotitis manifests itself and when a complication can be suspected

In almost half of the cases, parotitis is asymptomatic, but the patient actively releases the infection into the external environment. The mumps virus is not too persistent, and, nevertheless, is transmitted not only by airborne droplets – due to the patient's sneezing, but also through household contact – through household items, it can also be stored in breast milk. Adolescents are most often ill with parotitis, the virus affects mainly men, and adults also have a rather high susceptibility to this acute infection.

The disease develops rapidly and acutely, chills and fever are common signs of intoxication – in the form of general weakness, insomnia, headache and muscle pain. The patient complains that he has dry mouth, neck pain and swelling in the parotid region.

A typical sign of mumps is inflamed parotid salivary glands – most often both, but there may be one-sided swelling. The skin is smooth, stretched & nbsp; and is not folded. They can swell so much that they change the shape of the face and lift the earlobes. At the same time, a specific symptomatic sign of parotitis – pain on pressure in the region behind the earlobe. It can be difficult for the patient to chew, hearing decreases, salivation worsens.

In adults, not the parotid, but the submandibular or sublingual salivary glands are more often affected. The older the patient, the more severe it is, as a rule, for parotitis – with pronounced prodromal signs and high intoxication. The submandibular salivary glands swell along the entire lower jaw, become testy to the touch and are very sore. Hyperemia of the oral mucosa develops. The disease can last more than two weeks, after which there is a strong long-term immunity. With strong manifestations of intoxication, it is possible to suspect the development of complications.

Principles of mumps treatment and its possible complications

Treatment of mumps is symptomatic. Bed rest is mandatory, regardless of how the patient feels. It is necessary to follow a diet with non-hot semi-liquid food and the exclusion of foods that can provoke inflammation of the pancreas (white bread, cabbage pasta). According to the indications, antipyretics are taken, dry warm compresses are recommended for the salivary glands. In severe intoxication, small doses of corticosteroids are prescribed.

Complications of mumps – what is their danger

The mumps virus tends to infect nerve tissues and glandular organs, causing rather severe complications. Usually, complications appear a few days after the acute onset of the disease, against the background of subsiding manifestations. Most often, acute pancreatitis develops, orchitis or oophoritis, serous meningitis, and hearing loss may occur. There is an observation that the most serious complications develop when patients do not comply with bed rest in the first 3-5 days after the onset of the disease.

Vaccination against mumps significantly reduces the risk of complications. According to epidemic indications, if there is an outbreak of mumps, especially in large groups, vaccination can be carried out among adults.