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Swelling Of Salivary Glands? Expert Explains Mumps, Its Symptoms And How To Prevent It
Have you noticed swelling of salivary glands accompanied by fever, muscle aches and fatigue? These symptoms may be an indication of a contagious viral infection known as mumps. In severe cases, it may lead to complications, such as meningitis or deafness. This highlights the importance of learning about its causes, diagnosis, and preventive tips. We spoke to our expert Dr Ravinder Goud Jangampally, Consultant Paediatrician and Neonatologist, Yashoda Hospitals, Hyderabad, who shared insights on the same.
"Mumps, a contagious viral infection, caused by paramyxovirus belongs to the rubulavirus family. It mainly impacts the salivary glands, causing them to swell painfully. The virus spreads through respiratory droplets and coming in contact with an infected person", said Dr Jangampally.
Symptoms Of MumpsThe symptoms of mumps usually show up within 12-25 days after being exposed to the virus. Dr Jangampally listed some of the symptoms as follows:
Diagnosis For Mumps"Prompt diagnosis and isolation of infected individuals are essential to prevent further transmission. If someone suspects they have mumps or has been in close contact with an infected person, they should seek medical advice immediately", highlighted Dr Jangampally.
How To Manage MumpsAccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a person infected with mumps can transmit the virus starting a few days before the swelling of their salivary glands until approximately five days after the swelling begins. Individuals with mumps should minimise contact with others during this period.
Prevention is key in combating mumps. The most effective method is vaccination, usually administered as part of the MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella) vaccine. "This vaccine not only protects against mumps but also helps prevent measles and rubella. Vaccination not only safeguards individuals but also contributes to herd immunity, reducing the overall spread of the virus within communities", said Dr Jangampally.
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, the initial MMR vaccine is administered to children between 12-15 months of age, with a follow-up second dose given between 4-6 years old. In case of a delay of 28 days since the first dose, the second dose may be given before the age of 4.
Also Read: Early Symptoms & Preventive Tips For Children With Measles
In addition to vaccination, practising good hygiene habits can help prevent the spread of mumps. "Regular handwashing with soap and water, covering mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing, avoiding sharing utensils or drinks with infected individuals, and staying home when sick are crucial preventive measures", added Dr Jangampally.
According to StatPearls, mumps generally represent a mild, self-resolving illness. Supportive care tailored to each symptom is the mainstay of treatment. Analgesic medications and cold or warm compresses can alleviate parotid swelling. Testicular swelling and tenderness can be managed with elevation and cold compression.
BottomlineDr Jangampally concluded, "Mumps is a viral infection that can cause significant discomfort and complications if left untreated. Understanding its causes, recognising its symptoms, and implementing preventive measures such as vaccination and good hygiene practices are vital steps in controlling its spread and protecting public health."
[Disclaimer: This article contains information provided by an expert and is for informational purposes only. Hence, we advise you to consult your expert if you notice any symptoms to get the necessary treatment.]
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What Are The Salivary Glands And What Do They Do?
Salivary glands produce saliva and empty it into a person's mouth. Saliva helps make food moist, making it easier for people to chew, swallow, and digest. Saliva also helps keep the mouth clean.
A person has three main pairs of large salivary glands and hundreds of smaller salivary glands.
This article discusses the different types of salivary glands and what they do. It also lists a number of conditions that affect the salivary glands and discusses when someone should consider contacting a doctor.
A note about sex and genderSex and gender exist on spectrums. This article will use the terms "male," "female," or both to refer to sex assigned at birth. Click here to learn more.
People typically have three pairs of major salivary glands and hundreds of minor salivary glands. The major salivary glands are the largest of the salivary glands and produce most of the saliva in the mouth.
The major salivary glands produce around 92–95% of a person's saliva. The minor salivary glands produce the remainder of a person's saliva.
A person has about 600–1,000 minor salivary glands. They are in almost every part of the mouth, but most commonly in the:
The salivary glands produce saliva and secrete it into the mouth.
Saliva plays a role in helping a person chew and swallow food by making it moist. It also lubricates the surfaces within the mouth, which can help facilitate speech.
Saliva also contains enzymes that help a person digest certain substances in their food.
For example, saliva contains the enzyme amylase, which helps break down starches into sugars. This makes it easier for the body to absorb the starches.
Saliva also contains the enzyme lipase. This enzyme helps break down triglycerides, which are a type of dietary fat, into glycerol and free fatty acids. This makes it easier for the body to absorb these fats.
Additionally, saliva plays a role in helping protect against infection. This is because it contains compounds with antimicrobial properties, such as:
These compounds kill germs and help keep the mouth clean. Disruptions in saliva secretion can increase a person's risk of developing certain conditions, such as:
Below are five examples of conditions that can affect the salivary glands.
Salivary gland stones
According to the United Kingdom's National Health Service, they are not typically serious, and a person may be able to remove them on their own by:
Most salivary gland stones form below the tongue. In some cases, a person may be able to see them.
Symptoms of salivary gland stones include:
If a person experiences intense pain when eating, this may mean that the stone is completely blocking a salivary gland.
Salivary gland infections
Symptoms of a salivary gland infection include:
If a person has an infection of the lymph nodes due to a cold or sore throat, it can cause them to develop a secondary infection of the salivary glands. This may happen as the saliva becomes thick and stuck behind the gland.
Salivary gland cancer
If a person has salivary gland cancer, they may not experience any symptoms. A healthcare professional may discover this type of cancer during a regular dental exam or a physical exam.
However, some possible symptoms of salivary gland cancer include:
Benign (noncancerous) masses can also form in the salivary glands.
A person should speak with a doctor if they discover any lumps in their mouth, face, head, or neck.
Mumps
Mumps is a contagious viral infection that causes a person to develop puffy cheeks and a swollen jaw due to swelling in the salivary glands.
Other symptoms of mumps include:
Sjögren's syndrome
Sjögren's syndrome is a chronic autoimmune disorder that attacks certain glands. This includes the lacrimal glands, which make tears, and the salivary glands. The condition predominantly affects females.
Common symptoms of Sjögren's syndrome include:
The salivary glands produce saliva and secrete it into the mouth. Saliva helps a person chew and swallow their food. It also lubricates surfaces in the mouth to help facilitate speech.
Saliva contains enzymes that help a person digest certain substances, such as starches and fats, in their food. It can also help protect the body against infection.
There are three pairs of major salivary glands and hundreds of minor salivary glands. The main salivary glands are the parotid glands, the submandibular glands, and the sublingual glands.
Conditions that affect the salivary glands include salivary gland stones, infections, cancer, mumps, and Sjögren's syndrome. People should contact a healthcare professional if they think they are experiencing any problems with their salivary glands.
Mumps: What To Do After Thousands Of Cheerleaders May Have Been Exposed
Major cheerleading competitions, like the 11th Sea to Sky International Cheerleading Championship... [+] pictured here, can attract many people. If someone with the mumps attends, many people can get exposed to the virus (Xinhua/Liang Sen via Getty Images)
This would not be a good sequel to the movie Bring It On! Someone infected with the mumps virus attended the National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) All-Star National Championship, which was held from February 23 to 25 at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas. Yes, unfortunately, after this competition, mumps the word. Texas health officials have had to put the PS in "mumps" and send letters to attendees warning them about exposure to this very contagious virus.
With over 1320 teams, 23,000 athletes, and 2,600 coaches from 39 states and 9 countries attending, that's a lot of letters and a lot of people who may have been exposed. To give you a sense of the magnitude of this event, here's a Tweet from the competition:
The mumps virus doesn't work as a cheerocracy and can infect anyone who comes into contact with an infected person's respiratory secretions or saliva, either directly or via an object like a pillow or a cup. Therefore, if you catch the virus at the national championship, you could then bring it on back home to infect others.
Here's how swell getting the mumps can be. The most common symptoms are swollen, painful, and tender salivary glands. Most often it's your parotid salivary glands, which are located in your cheek and jaw area, but sometimes it's the salivary glands under the floor of your mouth. After being infected, symptoms may not appear for 2 to 4 weeks. Then, fever, muscle pains, weakness, fatigue, and loss of appetite may occur for several days until the salivary gland swelling begins. The swelling can last from anywhere from 2 days to over 10 days. Some people who get infected don't ever develop any symptoms but can still spread the virus to others.
Your salivary glands aren't the only things that may swell. Your testicles may swell, get quite painful, and turn red or purple. ("Big red has no feelings. Just testicles" is a quote from Bring It On! But probably has nothing to do with mumps orchitis, which is the scientific word for inflammation of the testicles.) Of course, you have to have testicles for this to occur. But if you do and you get mumps, there is a 3.3 to 10% chance that one or more of your testicles will develop orchitis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While swollen, painful, and reddish or purplish testicles for several days to several weeks is nothing to cheer about, mumps orchitis doesn't tend to have long term effects, except sterility in very rare cases.
Fortunately, most mumps cases eventually resolve without lasting damage. In less than 1% of all mumps cases, complications such as pancreatitis, deafness, or inflammation of the brain (meningitis and encephalitis) result. Death from mumps is very rare.
Don't want to get mumps when there may be a mumps outbreak? If you or someone you know attended the competition, be vigilant for the rest of this month. Stay away from anyone infected (at least for 5 days after they develop swelling of their salivary glands). Wash your hands and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be touched by others frequently and thoroughly. Minimize kissing and sharing of drinks, utensils, pillows, or anything that may have come into contact with someone who could have been exposed to the virus.
Most importantly, get the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) or the measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMRV) vaccine. One dose on average is 78% effective in preventing the mumps. Two doses is 88% effective. You can still get the mumps even if you've been vaccinated but vaccination substantially decreases the likelihood and may reduce the severity of your symptoms if you still end up with the disease. As the CDC describes, before 1967 when mumps vaccination programs began in the U.S., the number of cases per year hovered above 186,000. Vaccination then cut the number of mumps cases per year by 99%. Between the years 2000 and 2005, there were less than 500 cases per year.
However, in recent years, something's happened to help mumps make a bit of a comeback. The year 2016 had 6,366 reported cases. Here's an ABC News segment on an outbreak that occurred that year at Harvard University:
Last year had over 5,500 reported cases. Isn't that special. What could be causing this recent increase? Now what could it be? Could it be the anti-vaccination movement? Perhaps. Another trend could be increased international travel which may be bringing mumps virus into the country (mumps vaccination rates in some other countries may be lower).
And if you get the mumps, contact and listen to your doctor, stay at home, keep yourself isolated while you have symptoms, and for Pete's sake (and everyone else's) don't go to a national cheerleading competition.
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