Mumps

Mumps is caused by a virus which is spread by droplet infection (which means it’s carried in droplets of infected saliva produced by a cough or sneeze). Between 14 and 21 days after the infection there is swelling of one of the parotid glands - the salivary glands that sit at the angle of the jaw. The gland becomes tender and painful, particularly on eating. The gland on the opposite side usually swells up after a day or two. There may be painful inflammation of the testicles or the ovaries (which will respond to treatment using steroids). Very rarely there may be involvement of the central nervous system with headache and dislike of light. The incidence of this disease has dropped worldwide as a result of the use of the measles mumps and rubella vaccine. Being a viral illness there is, of course, no treatment.
 

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