Mumps are the
epidemic Parotitis refer to a
virus infection of the salivary glands, gonads,and
occasionally other parts of the body. It is a
contagious disease that occurs most frequently in
children and young persons between the ages of five and fifteen years. The disease spreads
from children to children in schools. Babies are immune from this disease. Most persons have
mumps only once in their lives, but one person in ten may have a second attack.
Symptoms
The first sign of
mumps is swelling and pain. The pain is first felt under one ear with stiffness of
the neck and jaw. There is a slight fever which subsides in three or four days. The swelling
appears first under one jaw and then extends under the other jaw. The gland becomes tender on
pressure. On account of the pressure of the swelling, mastication and swallowing becomes
difficult.
If the disease occurs after puberty, the testicles may be affected. The
ovary may be infected in
females. IN males, the gonads are usually swollen. If the disease spreads to the testicles, the
swelling and pain are very considerable, there is a high fever, and the patient may become
depressed and even a little confused.
Mumps can also lead to meningitis ( inflammation of the
soft membranes of the brain ) and
encephalitis (inflammation of the brain ) with delirium, severe
headache and other signs of irritation of the meninges, or it may spread to the
pancreas, when
the
symptoms include pain in the abdomen and loss of appetite. The patient may vomit.
Causes
Mumps are caused by a
virus which attacks the salivary glands of the mouth , particularly the
parotid glands located on each side of the face just below and in front of the ear. The infecting
organism is a paramyxovirus. After a person is exposed to a case of the
mumps, it takes about
two weeks for the disease to appear. Dietetic errors are at the root of the trouble.
Treatment
The patient should be put in bed for several days until the temperature returns to normal. He
should be kept on a diet of orange juice diluted with warm water on a 50 : 50 basis for a few
days. If the orange juice does not suit, the juices of other fruits such as mosambi, apple,
pineapple, grapes, or vegetables like carrot should be given. The warm water enema should be
used daily during this period. Hot and cold fomentations should be applied every two hours
during the day for about 10 minutes, and should consist of two or three hot applications, followed
by a cold one. The mouth should be cleaned with an antiseptic wash.
When the child can swallow food comfortably and the swelling has subsided, an all-fruit diet
should be adopted for a day or two. Thereafter, he may be allowed to gradually embark upon a
well- balanced diet of natural foods, with emphasis on fresh fruits and raw vegetables.
Home Remedies
Chebulic myroblen ( harad or haritaki ) is one of the most effective remedies for
mumps. A thick
paste should be made from this herb by rubbing in water and applied over the swelling. It will
give relief.
The leaves of the peepal tree are another effective home remedy for this disease. The leaves
should be smeared with ghee and warmed over a fire. They should then be bandaged over the
inflammed part, with beneficial results.
The use of the herb Indian aloe ( ghee kunwar or musabhar) is a well known remedy for
inflammed and painful part of the body in the indigeneous system of medicine. A piece of a leaf
of this herb should be peeled on one side and sprinkled with a little turmeric (haldi) and extract of
Indian barberry ( rasaut) and bandaged over the swelling after warming.
The seeds of asparagus ( halon) are valuable in
mumps. These seeds combined with the seeds
of fenugreek ( methi)should be ground together to a consistency of a paste. This paste can be
applied beneficially over the swelling.
The dry ginger ( adrak ) is considered beneficial in the treatment of
mumps. It should be made
into a paste and applied over the swollenparts . As the paste dries, the swelling will be reduced
and the pain will also subside.
The leaves of margosa ( neem ) are also useful in the treatment of
mumps. The leaves of this
tree and turmeric (haldi) should be made into a paste and applied externally over the affected
parts. It will bring good results.