Mumps In Children – Causes, Symptoms And Treatment

Children are susceptible to various infections during childhood. Mumps is one such contagious infection which is more prevalent in children between the ages 5-15 years. It is the infection of the salivary glands in the kids. It appears as swelling and soreness below the ears and along the jawline. The swelling may appear either on one or on both sides of the child’s face. It used to be quite common among children before the MMR vaccine was introduced. If you doctor tells you the importance of mumps vaccination, as a mom, especially first timers, you might be wondering how serious this infection is? Read on to know more about the causes, symptoms, and treatment for mumps in children to help you take an informed decision as a mother.

What Is Mumps In Children?

Mumps is an infectious disease caused by a virus that primarily affects the parotid glands of a child. The swelling can be on both sides of the cheeks or just on one side.
The parotid glands are one of three pairs of salivary glands. While the other two salivary glands are situated under the tongue (submandibular gland) and floor of mouth (sub lingual gland), parotid glands are a pair of salivary glands that are present on either side of the mouth in front of both ears along the jawline. The saliva produced in this gland is drained to the mouth through salivary ducts.

What Causes Mumps In Children?

Mumps virus causes mumps in children. It is a contagious disease which can easily spread from one child to another through mouth, nose or throat. The incubation period of the virus is 2-3 weeks. The child stays infected for about a week after the symptoms appear. This infection spreads quickly in schools and daycare centers where children come together. Your child can get infected:

• If an infected child sneezes or coughs and your child shares the same room with him, your child may breathe in the saliva droplets and get infected
• Your child can also get mumps by sharing plates, spoon, glass, or cup with someone who is already infected
• Sharing toys with the infected kids at school or day care centers can also result in catching mumps
• When an infected child touches his mouth or nose and then touches another surface like a door or a table, he transmits the virus to that surface. When your child touches that surface, he can get infected

What Are The Symptoms Of Mumps In Children?

As we already specified, the signs and symptoms will appear 2 to 3 weeks after the child is exposed to the virus. The intensity of symptoms depends on the severity of the infection. If the infection is mild, the child may not show significant symptoms. Some common symptoms of mumps in children are:

• The most common symptom of mumps is pain and swelling in one or both the salivary glands. The swelling in front of the ear, under the chin along the jawline, indicates swollen salivary gland
• Fever (low to moderate)
• Loss of appetite in your child. He may refuse to eat because of discomfort while chewing or swallowing food and sour taste in the mouth
• General weakness
• Headache
• Nausea and vomiting
• Mild tummy ache
• Dry mouth
• Stiff neck
• Joint pain
• Drowsiness

Diagnosis And Tests For Mumps In Children

Your doctor will diagnose mumps in your child from the symptoms specially the swollen glands. If your doctors feels that your child has mumps, he will order blood, urine or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to confirm the diagnosis.