Parotitis is a disease associated with inflammation of the parotid gland. This disease has been known for a long time all over the world and is often referred to in the people as "mumps". Most often, children suffer from it, but cases of mumps in adults are also common.
Epidemic and non-epidemic parotitis in adults - symptoms
By origin, parotitis is divided into two varieties, characterized by several different manifestations and currents. Let us consider each form of the disease in more detail.
Parotitis
This type of disease is more common. Epidemic parotitis in adults is an acute infectious disease caused by paramyxovirus. Infection is transmitted from person to person by airborne droplets, but the contact route of transmission is not excluded. The incubation period (from infection to the onset of symptoms) can range from 11 to 23 days. Outbreaks of the epidemic are found, as a rule, in the autumn-winter period.
In most cases, the disease proceeds according to the type of acute infection and is accompanied by an inflammatory process, more often than one parotid gland. In this case, the iron significantly increases in size. Purulent inflammation of the parotid gland with this type of disease develops very rarely.
In addition to the parotid glands, submandibular and sublingual salivary glands, as well as pancreatic, dairy, and sexual glands can be inflamed with epidemic parotitis. Severe complications can develop:
- neuritis;
- nephritis;
- encephalitis ;
- meningitis;
- myocarditis;
- pancreatitis , etc.
The signs of mumps in adults are:
- elevated body temperature (up to 39 ° C);
- chills, fever;
- general weakness;
- headache;
- swelling of the parotid gland (one-sided or bilateral);
- sharp pain during chewing, swallowing, talking.
The skin over the inflamed gland is tense, glossy, and the swelling can spread to the neck area.
Non-epidemic parotitis
Non-epidemic parotitis in adults can be both infectious and non-infectious. Possible causes of this form of the disease are:
- trauma of the salivary gland;
- hypothermia;
- blockage of the excretory duct of the gland by a foreign body;
- salivary stone disease;
- infection due to ingestion of bacteria from the oral mucosa.
Mumps have a heavy course, the development of which is associated with infectious diseases: pneumonia, influenza, typhus, epidemic encephalitis, etc. Streptococci, staphylococcus, pneumococci and some other microorganisms can act as causative agents of the infection. In the parotid gland, the infection penetrates most often through its excretory duct, less often - through the blood and lymphatic vessels.
This type of disease, like the epidemic, begins with the appearance of swelling and pain in the region of the parotid salivary gland. Also characteristic is dry mouth, general malaise, fever.
Treatment of mumps in adults
Treatment of mumps is symptomatic. In most cases, patients are treated at home. As a rule, the following are appointed:
- bed rest;
- abundant drinking;
- antipyretic drugs;
- the use of funds that enhance salivation;
- rinsing the mouth with solutions of anti-inflammatory drugs;
- local warming preparations in the form of ointments on the affected areas;
- vitamin therapy;
- adherence to the dairy and vegetable diet.
In severe forms of mumps with the development of serious complications, patients are hospitalized in a hospital. In this case, additional treatment is prescribed depending on the type of complications.
For the prevention of mumps, vaccination and revaccination are recommended.