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div id=”pcl-full-content”>More children in Maharashtra, Hyderabad, and Telangana are getting mumps, which worries parents. Mumps is a viral infection that makes the glands on the face swell and hurt. This outbreak causes fever, tiredness, swollen glands, muscle pain, and headaches in kids. Parents should be careful because it can lead to serious problems like meningitis and deafness. Pregnant women could also face problems. Experts advise being careful, keeping distance from others, washing hands well, and staying clean.
Dr. Kanchankumar Ramrao Bhagyawant, a children’s doctor in Pune, says mumps is contagious and spreads when someone coughs or sneezes. People with mumps should avoid crowded places, rest, and follow good hygiene. Dr. Poonam Sidana, a doctor in Delhi, warns that mumps is a bigger issue than just swollen cheeks. Not many people in India have protection against mumps, even if they got vaccinated, which is worrying. It shows we need to improve our immunity against this disease.
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Watch out for these symptoms of mumps
Dr. Sidana warns that even though the symptoms might not seem serious, they can hide bigger problems like fever, tiredness, swollen glands (making the face look like a chipmunk), muscle pain, and headaches. But the complications can be severe, causing meningitis, deafness, and harming unborn babies in pregnant women.
Dr. Bhagyawant explains that early signs include fever, headache, muscle pain, tiredness, and loss of appetite. After 2-3 days, swollen glands under the ears or jaw appear, which might be on one or both sides. It’s painful, especially when eating sour foods. The swelling goes down over a week, but seek medical help as soon as you notice it.
Why this resurgence?
The problem is that people are becoming too relaxed and believing wrong information, which weakens the protection from vaccines. The coverage for vaccines has decreased, making our defense less strong.
Dr. Sidana explains that places where people are close together, like schools and sports teams, spread the virus easily. Also, because there isn’t enough information, mumps vaccination was stopped from the Universal Program for Immunization. To fix this, it’s important to focus on giving MMR vaccines at 9 months, 15 months, and 4-5 years, in both public and private health sectors. This includes educating people, clearing up wrong ideas, and making sure people trust vaccines.
Prevention tips
Mumps infections are more common during winter and spring. Anyone with swollen glands or swelling below their ears should be recognized as having mumps and should stay away from others for at least 7 days after swelling starts. They need rest, good food, and treatment for fever and pain. Keeping the person isolated, using masks, and getting vaccinated on time can stop the disease from spreading in the community. Sometimes, it’s hard to know where it came from because the virus spreads before symptoms show or from people who don’t show any signs. So, the best way to prevent it is by getting the mumps vaccine. Kids should get three doses of the vaccine (MMR VACCINE) at 9 months, 15 months, and between 4 to 6 years old. If school children or teens missed the vaccine, they can get 2 doses, 4 weeks apart. This helps to keep them safe.
To avoid getting the infection, Dr Bhagyawant shared some of the preventive methods.
Frequent washing of hands: Washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is the best way to stop germs from spreading, especially after coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose.
Practice cough and sneeze etiquette: When you cough or sneeze, use a tissue or your elbow to cover your mouth and nose. Throw away used tissues and wash your hands right away.
Avoid close contact with sick people: Stay at least 6 feet away from someone showing mumps symptoms like swollen glands or fever. Try to avoid crowded areas and gatherings to stay safe.
Clean and disinfect surfaces regularly: Use suitable cleaning products to disinfect often-touched surfaces such as doorknobs, light switches, and countertops.
Dr Bhagyawant also shared some prevention tips for pregnant women who would want to avoid complications in unborn children.
Minimize exposure: Pregnant women should try to stay away from people suspected of having mumps. They should keep a distance from sick individuals and avoid crowded areas as a priority.
Vaccination status: Pregnant women who haven’t been vaccinated should talk to their healthcare provider about getting the MMR vaccine. Vaccinating before pregnancy is the safest way to protect both the mother and the fetus.
Seek medical advice: If you’re pregnant and worried about exposure to mumps, seek advice from your doctor right away for proper guidance and preventive measures.
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