Symptoms

The onset of typical parotitis is usually sudden. It may be preceded by lack of appetite, chilly sensation, feverishness, sore throat and tenderness at the angle of the jaw. 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, the patient feels much difficulty in talking, mastication and swallowing of food.

Treatment

The child-patient should take bed rest for several days until the temperature returns to normal. He should be kept on a diet of fruit juices and other liquid foods. Orange juice diluted with warm water on 50:50 basis for few days will be especially beneficial. Other fruits and vegetables which can be used for juices are sweet lime, apple, pineapple, grapes, and carrot. The child should be encouraged to take warm-water enema daily during this period. Hot and cold fomentations should be applied after 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 face should be cleaned with an antiseptic wash.

The patient should adopt an all fruit diet for a day or two, till the swelling has subsided and he can swallow food comfortably. Thereafter, he may gradually embark upon a well-balanced diet of natural foods, with emphasis on fresh fruits, raw and lightly-cooked vegetables and whole grain cereals.

Certain home remedies have been found beneficial in the treatment of mumps. The most important of these is the use of chebulic myrobalan (Harad or haritaki). 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 peepal tree are also used as an effective home remedy for this disease. These leaves should be smeared with ghee and warmed over a fire. They should then be bandaged over the inflamed part.

The use of the herb Indian aloe (ghee kunwar or musabbar) is a well known remedy for inflamed and painful part of the body. A part of a leaf of this herb should be peeled on one side and sprinkled with a mixture of turmeric (haldi) and extract of Indian barberry (rasaut) and bandaged over the swelling warming.

The seeds of asparagus (halon) are also valuable in mumps .The seeds combined with the seeds of fenugreek (methi) should be ground together to the consistency of a paste. This paste can be applied over the swelling.

The use of dry ginger (saunth) is considered beneficial in the treatment of mumps. It should be ground to a paste and applied over the swollen parts. As the paste dries, the swelling will reduce and the pain will also subside.

The leaves of margosa (neem) are also useful in the treatment of mumps. The leaves of this tree with little turmeric (haldi) should be ground into a paste and applied externally over the affected parts. It will bring good results.