HEALTH HINTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 149, 23 June 1906, Page 11

HEALTH HINTS.

MUMPS: ITS NATURE AND TREATMENT. EARLY SYMPTOMS. Within from ten to fourteen days after "he patient has become infected, he begins to complain of pain on swallowing, with some pain just below the ear. The throat is often sore. Tbe appetite is lost, and the child ?ppenrs to be out ■if sorts. He becomes tovorish, and is restless at night. In a day or two a welling appear? on the side of the cheek, and this is definitely painful. The child compl.-.ui.-, of je rr.'osi when he moves his head, and when he attempts to swallow. Sometimes at the outset the patient is very fpverish and may even be delirious ar night. Yomit'ng sometimes also occur::. After a day or two the other side sdtnws a similar swelling, and the face now begins to assume its characteri-dic and. .-trange nppeafitue. In bad cases the child may be tlmost unable to open t"ie mouth, and ihe speech may be thick and indistinct. PROGRESS OF THE DISEASE. The affection steadily increases in severity for a period varying from three to five days, and then begins as steadily to decline. The fever gradually abates, but very often a week or even longer elapses before it becomes quite normal again. The swelling of the affected jlands slowly diminishes, but in scroful pus children, more especially, the swellJig may remain evident for a considerible time after every other symptom ha? disappeared. Speaking generally, however, a' favourable termination may be looked for in practically every case of mumps: and in the majority of cases the child is quite recovered within a fortnight of his first showing evidences of the disease. SOME OF ITS COMPLICATIONS. But for its complications mumps might fairly be. regarded as a trifling disease; yet, unfortunately, there are certain t-.ouditions which are apt to follow in the train of mumps, and these make it a disease of considerable importance, and one demanding en.re. in its management and treatment. By no means an infrequent sequel lo an attack of mumps is a running ear. Indeed, many people suppose that the whole illness has been due to some ear trouble, which li.is suddenly ended in a discharge making its appearance, and we have even known people who imagined that the doctor had made a wrong diagnosis, and had been treating the child for mumps when in reality not mumps, but ear mischief was the cause of the trouble. It is well, therefore, that our readers should know that mumps is ofton 'ollowed by ear affections, as then they will cease to misjudge their medical attendant's treatment of the case. But there are other complications as well. Thus, we sometimes find the kidneys af"ected, and an examination of the secre tion reveals the presence of abnormal matters. Then, again, every now and then we meet with cases in which inflammation of the brain sets in; while in others paralysis of the face ensues upon a severe attack. Most children, after suffering from mumps, show marked signs of bloodlessness, and this may well be looked upon as a very common sequel indeed. MANAGEMENT AND TREATMENT. The child who is suffering from mumps ought to be isolated as far as possible and put at once to bed. between blankets. Warmth is important. The face may be wrapped round with a strip of flannel, pinned on the top of the. head. Food should be liquid, rather than solid, as the child always displays considerable pain in masticating and swallowing. Milk, lemco, beef or chicken jelly, lemonade, and gruels may be given. Beeftea may also be employed as a stimulant, but it should be borne carefully in mind that it contains little or no nourishment. The swollen glands may be rubbed gently two or three times a day with a little warm olive oil, as this not only helps to allay the pain, but also relieves the stiffness very considerably. The child should be kept in bed until the fevr? has entirely disappeared. It is, therefore, important that in every case, whenever possible, a medical man should nee the child and prescribe suitable remedies as well as guard against the possibility of certain of the complications, some of which we have already mentioned. The child should not be allowed to return to school too soon. A course of cod liver oil is generally beneficial, and the throat as well as the ears may require attention. Should running cars supervene, they should be syringed fre quently with tepid water and dried out afterwards very carefully. Great care must be taken against cold, and if the child seems to be bloodless and does not appear to care for food, he should be taken to a doctor. It occasionally happens that utump occur along with measles or scarlet fever, in which case the management and treatment must he conducted on the lines " already laid down. It is always well to see that only the purest glycerine is employed, as oheap forms are very unsatisfactory both for external and for internal use.