Mumps cases surface in Thrissur, health officer urges caution
Mumps cases have been reported across Thrissur district, prompting the District Medical Officer to issue a public advisory on symptoms, precautions and vaccination.
Mumps cases have been reported from various parts of Thrissur district in Kerala, prompting the District Medical Officer to call on the public to stay alert to the viral infection and its symptoms.
Mumps spreads through the air, carried mainly by droplets released when an infected person coughs or sneezes, as well as through nasal secretions and close contact. A person is most contagious from roughly two days before the facial swelling begins until four to six days after it appears.
Children aged five to 15 are the group most commonly affected, though adults can also contract the infection, and the illness tends to be more severe in them.
The clearest sign is swelling on the sides of the cheeks below the ears, which may appear on one or both sides of the face. Mild fever and headache often come first, followed by difficulty opening the mouth, chewing and swallowing. Loss of appetite and fatigue may also set in.
Patients have been advised to treat fever and pain, drink plenty of fluids and rest adequately. Without proper precautions, the infection can in some cases reach the brain, testicles, ovaries, pancreas and prostate. Encephalitis is among the possible complications when it spreads to the brain, while involvement of reproductive organs in adults can, in some cases, affect fertility.
Teachers have been asked to inform parents and health workers immediately if a child shows symptoms. Those infected should stay home until they recover, avoid close contact with others, and children with mumps should not be sent to school.
Recommended precautions include disinfecting items used by infected persons, wearing masks, maintaining physical distance and washing hands with soap. The illness usually subsides within one to two weeks.
Parents have also been urged to ensure their children receive the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine at 16 to 24 months of age, which offers protection against all three infections. Anyone who develops symptoms should consult a doctor promptly and seek appropriate treatment.