Symptoms and tactics of treating mumps in adult men

Mumps, or mumps, is an acute infectious disease of a viral nature. The causative agent of this infection is a virus belonging to the genus Paramyxovirus. Despite the fact that this pathology is most common in children and adolescents under the age of 15, adults can also experience it. In this article, we will look at the symptoms of mumps in adult men, as well as talk about treatment.

How does mumps appear in adults?

The average incubation period for mumps is 18 to 20 days.

As a rule, the disease begins acutely with a rapid increase in body temperature to subfebrile or febrile values, an increase in other signs of a general intoxication syndrome in the form of weakness and malaise, headache and muscle pain, chills, and so on. However, in adulthood, this infection can manifest itself from the prodromal period, represented by dry mouth, fatigue, catarrhal symptoms, and others.

In 2020, scientists from the Samarkand State Medical Institute published a paper, the results of which found that in adulthood mumps most often has a moderate or severe course.

A characteristic clinical sign is inflammatory changes in the parotid salivary glands. In the place of their projection, swelling appears, the glands themselves acquire a densely elastic consistency, palpation is accompanied by pain. Quite often there is involvement in the pathological process of the salivary glands located in the sublingual or submandibular region. Sometimes in adults, inflammation affects only them.

Due to the growing edema, the face of a sick person is deformed. In some cases, there is a spread of puffiness to the cervical region. With the defeat of the sublingual salivary gland, reddening of the mucous membrane of the oral cavity can be detected, namely under the tongue.

Due to increasing inflammation, the patient complains of severe pain that interferes with chewing food. In addition, a decrease in saliva production is characteristic.

In adulthood, swelling and pain may persist for 14 days or more.

The most characteristic complications of mumps in adult men are secondary inflammation of the testicles and pancreas.

Treatment of mumps

Hospitalization is required only if mumps becomes severe. For the entire febrile period, the sick person is prescribed bed rest, heavy drinking.

Dry heat should be applied to the area of ​​the affected glands or physiotherapeutic procedures, such as UHF therapy, should be carried out.

If necessary, detoxification measures are taken, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed. In severe cases, including the occurrence of such complications as orchitis, glucocorticosteroids are used.

At the initial stage of the disease, various antiviral drugs can be used as etiotropic therapy.

Any medication should be used only as prescribed by a doctor. Self-medication of mumps is unacceptable.