How can you tell the difference between mumps and Parotitis?
Patients with parotitis complain of progressive enlargement and pain in one or both parotid glands. Bilateral parotid involvement is typical for mumps and inflammatory conditions, whereas unilateral parotid swelling, pain, and presence of fever are more suggestive of bacterial cause.
Are there different strains of mumps?
The mumps virus is a RNA virus of the genus Rubulavirus in the family Paramyxoviridae; Several different genotypes of the mumps virus have been recognised, although the significance of this genotypic variation with regards to vaccine response remains unclear.
What does the mumps virus look like?
Mumps is most recognisable by the painful swellings in the side of the face under the ears (the parotid glands), giving a person with mumps a distinctive “hamster face” appearance.
What is parotid mass?
Parotid tumors are abnormal growths of cells (tumors) that form in the parotid glands. The parotid glands are two salivary glands that sit just in front of the ears on each side of the face. Salivary glands produce saliva to aid in chewing and digesting food.
What are parotid glands?
The parotid gland is one of the major salivary glands. These glands make saliva. This is the watery substance used to lubricate your mouth and start the digestion process. The parotid gland wraps around the back of your lower jaw.
What does parotitis feel like?
Sore throat. Loss of appetite. Swelling of the parotid glands (the largest salivary glands, located between the ear and the jaw) Swelling of the temples or jaw (temporomandibular area)
What does parotitis look like?
Parotitis presents as swelling at the angle of the jaw. Bacterial parotitis presents as a unilateral swelling, where the gland is swollen and tender and usually produces pus at the Stensen’s duct. This pus is usually sampled and the bacteria within are identified.
Can you have asymptomatic mumps?
Mumps infection may also present only with nonspecific or primarily respiratory symptoms, or may be asymptomatic. Reinfection after natural infection and recurrent parotitis, when parotitis on one side resolves but is followed weeks to months later by parotitis on the other side, can also occur in mumps patients.
What body system does mumps affect?
Salivary glands Mumps is a viral infection that primarily affects saliva-producing (salivary) glands that are located near your ears. Mumps can cause swelling in one or both of these glands.