Mumps

Mumps

A contagious viral infection causing painful swelling of the salivary glands. 

Symptoms:

• Pain when chewing
• Fever followed a day or two later by tenderness and swelling of one or both sides of the face.
• Vomiting
• Severe headache

Seriousness:

• Take your child to a doctor if you think she has mumps.
• If your child has a severe headache - with or without vomiting - or pain in her abdomen, call your doctor immediately. 
• Inflammation of the testicles in boys can lead to sterility in later life. 

Treatment:

• Paracetamol will reduce fever and relieve the pain.
• Let your child drink lots of water, but not fruit juice, as this stimulates the flow of saliva and may make the glands hurt more.