mumps

Ayurvedic Name: Karnamulaka Jwara

What are Mumps?

Mumps is an infectious disease caused by a virus, named paramyxovirus. Mumps is a very common childhood disease which occurs mostly in winters.

In this disease an enlargement of the two salivary glands in the cheeks at the angle of the jaw is seen. The disease is generally self-limiting, and there is no specific treatment apart from controlling the symptoms with painkillers and other ayurvedic and herbal remedies.

The disease has been recognized for several centuries, and is common in many countries of the world including United States, so getting a vaccination against mumps is very important.

Most people will make an easy recovery. Mumps is generally a mild to moderate illness, and it also recovers completely and there are no long term marks left.

Most common symptoms seen in mumps are painful swelling of the salivary glands and fever. Painful testicular swelling and rash may also occur. While symptoms are generally not generally severe in children's, but this disease if caused in teenagers and adults, it can be a very serious disease and can lead to many complications such as orchitis and result in atrophy of the testicles

Causes of Mumps

Ayurvedic Name: Karnamulaka Jwara

What are the Causes of Mumps - How is it Spread:

Mumps is usually caused by a virus named paramyxovirus. Main attack of this virus is salivary glands. This virus is usually present in the infected person's saliva, nose and throat. So it can be easily spread by direct contact with saliva, like kissing of an infected person and a healthy person, or can also be spread through sharing objects contaminated with infected saliva (e.g. cups, utensils). This virus can also be spread when by breathing in droplets coming from infected persons cough or sneeze fall on a healthy person.

The incubation period (from initial infection to symptoms) of disease is quite long ranging from 2 -3 weeks. Paramyxovirus is spreads easily from person to person through infected saliva. An infected person can become contagious even 48 hours before the actual symptoms of mumps begin to be seen.

Anyone who is not immune from either previous mumps infection or from vaccination can get mumps. Before the vaccination was discovered for mumps in US, it was one of the most common diseases in small children. But now as vaccines are available against mumps so there are very less chances of falling sick due to mumps. Some rare people who get mumps, have very mild or no symptoms therefore there is not much danger. So, every child must be properly vaccine against mumps with the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccination.

Mumps Signs and Symptoms:

Ayurvedic Name: Karnamulaka Jwara

What are the symptoms of Mumps ?

Mumps is an acute, inflammatory disease caused by a virus known as paramyxovirus. It is usually characterized by swelling of the salivary glands, especially the parotids, and sometimes of the pancreas, ovaries, or testes. There is also a swelling in the cheeks and jaw, which is due to the inflammation of the salivary glands.

Mumps is a disease with a very long incubation period. It can range from 14 days to even 25 days. This means the symptoms of disease will be first seen after so many days of infection. The prodromal symptoms are nonspecific, and include myalgia, anorexia, malaise, headache, and low-grade fever.

The virus usually enters the body through nose and throat. You may start to feel symptoms as the virus multiplies and spreads to the brain and the membranes that cover it, glands, pancreas, testicles, ovaries, and other areas of the body.

Mumps is a highly contagious disease so can be easily spread by direct contact like exchanging saliva during kissing and sexual contact, airborne droplet nuclei and perhaps urine. The paramyxovirus becomes contagious (can be passed on to others) from about a week before the disease breaks out, which can make it difficult to track down the source of infection.

The main Symptoms of Mumps are given below

The symptoms of mumps are fatigue, slight feverishness and a sore throat. Which may precede the swelling in your body and temperature upto 40°.There may be swelling of the testicles in males and the ovaries among females.

Main symptoms of mumps are given below:

• Sore Throat.
• Swelling of the parotid glands.
• Slight Feverishness (for two to three days).
• Loss of appetite.
• Headache.
• Fatigue.
• Dry mouth.
• Earache.
• Stiff neck.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Lower Abdominal pain in Women.

Mumps is usually harmless and it's symptoms usually subside within ten days if starting infection.

Ayurvedic Treatment of Mumps with some Ayurvedic Medicines:

Ayurvedic Name: Karnamulaka Jwara

Here are some herbal and ayurvedic medicines - designed to control infection, stop pain and improve symptoms, correct imbalance and adjust immune system.

Ayurvedic Medicine I

Ingredients

• 10 mg of Mrigshringa Bhasma.
• 120 mg of Sanjivani.

Directions

Mix all the above ingredients properly. Now this dose should be taken with warm water or juice of ginger, four times daily.

Ayurvedic Medicine II

Ingredients

• Ashwakanchuki

Directions

120-240 mg of Ashwakanchuki should be given at night with warm water.

Home Remedies for the Treatment of Mumps - Some tips for Mumps:

Ayurvedic Name: Karnamulaka Jwara

What are the Home Remedies of Mumps ?

Home Remedies for Mumps are given below:

Chebulic Myroblan - Chebulic myroblan is another good remedy for treating mumps. A thick paste should be made from chebulic myroblan by rubbing it in water. This should be applied over the swellings - you may feel good after applying it.

Mullein Tea - Apply a cloth soaked in mullein tea to the affected areas. This will help to combat with swelling.

Seeds of Asparagus - The seeds of asparagus are valuable in mumps. The seeds of asparagus combined with an equal proportion of methi (fenugreek) seeds, should be ground together and made in paste form. This paste can be applied over the swellings.

Margosa Leaves - Margosa Leaves act as a good herbal treatment for mumps. Make powdered form of margosa leaves and mix it with haldi and make a paste of it. This should be applied externally over the affected parts by mumps. This will help you cure mumps fast.

Some tips during the period - when patient is suffering from mumps

• A child suffering from mumps should not be sent to school for at least 7 to 10 days after symptoms begin, as he or she is considered contagious during that period - and will infect other children also in the school.

• The patient should be given soft foods to eat.

• Avoid Acidic Drinks - Acidic foods and beverages such as citrus or tomato products increase saliva flow. The more saliva flows, the more it's going to hurt. So, it's better if the child drinks just non acidic fluids such as water or milk.