Health in the Home

Southland Times, Issue 22107, 30 August 1933, Page 5

Health in the Home

MUMPS. (By a Family Although an attack of mumps in children is usually a mild illness there are certain unpleasant complications that are liable to occur unless the patient is carefully nursed. These complications are apt to be particularly serious in grown-up people. Directly mumps have declared itself the patient should be isolated and kept warm in bed while its parents should be careful to avoid kissing and close contact. The disease starts with pain and tenderness in the region behind the jaw and beneath the ear, and the pain is most noticeable on opening and closing the mouth. A swelling soon appears which tends to bulge out the lobe of the ear; and within four or five days the same thing occurs on the other side of the face.

The diet should consist mainly of fluids containing sugar and fruit juices. More solid starchy foods may also be given; but often the child is unable for a time to use his mouth for mastication. A most important point is to keep the mouth clean, using mouth washes several times a day, especially after taking solid food. Other glands may be involved and add to the seriousness of the illness. Occasionally there is severe abdominal pain and intestinal disturbance. These and other serious complications are less liable to occur if the patient is kept warm and in bed from the very outset until all swelling in the neck has subsided.

The patient must be isolated until a week after the swelling has gone provided two weeks have elapsed from the

first appearance of the swelling. Other children in contact with him during the four days before he was taken ill must be kept in quarantine for 24 days.