Question

mumps is

Answer 1

Definition: Mumps (also called parotitis) is a contagious viral infection that primarily affects our saliva-producing glands (that is, salivary glands), which are located in the inner site near our ears.

Site of action: The disease spreads through infected saliva, spreads to our parotid glands, often in front of our ears. It causes swelling of one or both of these glands.

Symptoms: The initial symptoms include fever, muscle pain, loss of appetite, headache, fatigue and feeling of unwell. Some people shows no symptoms to this virus at all. In extreme cases, it may lead to meningitis or encephalitis, two of the potentially fatal conditions which are left untreated.

Time period:  Symptoms of mumps generally last about 10 days, complete recovery takes about 2 weeks. Once recovered, he/she usually turns immune from getting the mumps virus for the rest of life.

Causal agent:  Mumps orthorubulavirus (MuV) is the causative agent of mumps (of Rubulavirus family).

Transmission:  It is airborne, which transmits by respiratory droplets (coughs or sneezes), by touching a contaminated surface (blanket or doorknob), by saliva contact (kissing or shared drinks), etc.

Treatment:  Treatment of mumps viruses is focused on symptom relief. The MMR vaccine (measels, mumps, rubella vaccine) is used for preventing the occurence of this disease.