Complications of mumps
Mumps can cause serious complications. In most cases, with timely treatment of mumps and a competent approach to the treatment of the disease, the inflammatory process is limited to the salivary glands and does not spread to other organs, but nevertheless, the risk of complications with mumps remains quite high, especially if the disease is severe.
Complications of mumps from the endocrine glands
In addition to the salivary glands, the inflammatory process can also affect some other glands: pancreas, prostate, female reproductive glands, lacrimal glands, thyroid gland, etc.
Inflammation of the pancreas is accompanied by abdominal pain and vomiting. The pain is localized in the upper left abdomen. Juvenile diabetes mellitus can be a consequence of this inflammation.
Pancreatitis as a complication of mumps occurs in 50% of patients. Most often, the inflammatory process in the pancreas and in the salivary glands begins at the same time, sometimes a complication of the disease develops in the first week, very rarely in the second week. In this case, the symptoms of mumps are joined by nausea, vomiting, hiccups, stool disturbances (constipation, less often diarrhea). In children under two years of age, the stool becomes liquid, in it you can find particles of undigested food, white lumps. The patient's tongue is dry and coated. In severe cases, there is a rapid pulse, a drop in blood pressure, and there may be a collapse.
Orchitis after mumps occurs in men in 68% of cases, among preschoolers 2% of boys develop orchitis. Orchitis is more common in adolescents than in children under 10–11 years of age. Orchitis begins acutely from the third to the 10th day of mumps, but it can begin later, from 14 to 19 days, and even after two or more weeks. With mumps, inflammation of the seminal glands often develops on one side, in most cases on the right.
Adolescents and adult men may develop prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate gland), which is accompanied by pain in the perineum that gets worse during urination or bowel movement. The disease can be diagnosed by palpation by probing an enlarged gland through the rectum.
Teenage girls may have oophoritis (inflammation of the female reproductive glands). The disease begins acutely and is accompanied by severe pain and fever. In 5-7 days, the inflammation quickly disappears, the prognosis is favorable in most cases.
Mastitis as a complication of mumps can occur in both women and men. The disease is accompanied by high fever, soreness of the mammary glands, and their compaction. The inflammation goes away after a few days and is not accompanied by purulent discharge.
A very rare complication of mumps is inflammation of the thyroid gland - thyroiditis. The disease is characterized by high fever, soreness of the cervical spine, increased sweating, exophthalmos.
Mumps can cause inflammation in the lacrimal gland (dacryoadenitis). The disease is accompanied by severe pain in the eye area, swelling of the eyelids.
Complication of mumps from internal organs and central nervous system
The inflammatory process can also affect some internal organs: the liver, spleen, organs of hearing and vision, as well as joints.
In the typical course of mumps, complications from the central nervous system can occur. So, until the sixth day of the disease, symptoms of serous meningitis appear, which may limit the manifestation of mumps. Most often, inflammation of the meninges occurs in children three to nine years old.
In rare cases, meningoencephalitis occurs after mumps. It can begin in children under the age of six, more often after the first week of illness. In this case, the cranial nerves, cerebellum, pyramidal and vestibular systems are affected.
Article author: Mochalov Pavel Alexandrovich | d. m. n. therapist
Education: Moscow Medical Institute. IM Sechenov, specialty - "General Medicine" in 1991, in 1993 "Occupational Diseases", in 1996 "Therapy".
