It’s quite easy to know if a person has mumps because of the obvious swelling of the parotid

salivary glands, which are found between the ear and the jaw. Mumps usually occur in ages 5-14,
which explain why we usually get mumps during childhood. The disease can also occur among
adults, although the rates are significantly lower than the occurrence among children.

Signs and Symptoms of Mumps Infection

High fever is usually the first indication of mumps, with body temperatures reaching up to 103
degrees Fahrenheit or 39.4 degrees Celsius. An infected person will experience headache and
drastic loss of appetite. The swelling in parotid glands will then appear, and are usually painful.
The pain usually lasts 1 to 3 days, which worsens with pressure from talking, eating, chewing
and swallowing. The swelling can affect one or both cheeks, with one side swelling before the
other. Adult and adolescent males infected with mumps can also experience orchitis, an
inflammation of the testicles. Rashes can also occur. Testicular swelling, which will last for 3 to
7 days, usually occurs after the parotids have swelled, and will be accompanied by high fever,
chills, nausea and abdominal pain. Mumps can have serious complications such as swelling and
inflammation of the brain and other organs. Encephalitis, meningitis and sterility among males
are also serious complications, but these cases are very rare in relation to mumps.

Contagiousness

The disease can be passed on through the saliva, and can spread if an infected person coughs or
sneezes near an uninfected individual. The virus can also be picked up by using drinking glasses
or utensils used by the infected person. Mumps are most contagious two days before the
symptoms begin, and up to six days after the symptoms end. There are mild cases where an
infected person will experience no symptoms at all.

Treatment of Mumps

A vaccine, usually given to children ages 4 to 6, can help fight off the disease. The fever and
pain can be alleviated by taking Paracetamol, or non-aspirin medications. Patients are advised to
eat soft foods and gargle with warm water and salt in order not to worsen the pain. They are
advised not to take acidic foods or drinks such as orange foods, because it can add to the pain. If
complications occur, see your doctor immediately.

Consult a Doctor

This article was written for information purposes. Should the reader recognize any symptom, it is
strongly advised that a doctor be consulted for proper treatment and guidance.

Mumps (viral parotitis)- is a disease caused by a virus that usually spreads through saliva and
can infect many parts of the body, especially the parotid salivary glands.  These glands, which
produce saliva for the mouth, are found toward the back of each cheek, in the area between the
ear and jaw.  In cases of mumps, these glands typically swell and become painful.

Diagnostic Test:
  Nose and throat swamps

Signs and Symptoms:

 fever
 pain when chewing or opening the mouth
 a soft swelling below the ear
 general feeling of weakness in the body
 difficulty in swallowing

Complication:

 male -  orchitis –swelling of testicles,

prostate gland, sperm(sterility)
 female – oophoritis – sweeling of ovary,
egg cells(infertility)

Incubation Period:

 2 to 3 weeks

Treatment:

 Apply warm and cold compress

 Take plenty of fluids
 Apply sponge bath after a fever
 Soft diet foods
1. What is malaria?

Malaria is a disease caused by protozoan parasites called Plasmodium. It is usually transmitted

through the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito. Malaria may also be transmitted
through the following:

 Transfusing blood that is positive for malaria parasites

 Sharing of IV needles (especially among IV drug users)
 Transplacenta (transfer of malaria parasites form an infected mother to her unborn child)

2. What are the common signs and symptoms of malaria?

 Chills
 Fever
 Too much sweating when fever subsides
 Headache

3. What are the common species of malaria parasites in the Philippines?

There are 4 species of malaria parasites. These are: Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium vivax,
Plasmodium malariae and Plasmodium ovale. Of these, Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium
vivax are the common species of malaria parasites in the Philippines where 70% of malaria cases
are P. falciparum while 30% are P. vivax cases. There are also P. malariae cases and contributes
to about 1% of the total malaria cases. P. falciparum malaria, if not treated immediately, can lead
to severe malaria, such as cerebral malaria. On the other hand, P. vivax malaria does not lead to
cerebral malaria but it causes relapse if treatment was not completed.

4. Do all mosquitoes carry the malaria parasite?

No, not all mosquitoes carry the malaria parasite. In the country, it is the adult female Anopheles
mosquito that can become infective and therefore carries the malaria parasite after she bites a
person infected with malaria. The malaria parasite undergoes several developmental stages inside
the adult female mosquito until such time that the mosquito becomes infective with malaria
parasites. This anopheles mosquito bites from dusk to dawn and it breeds in clear, slow flowing
streams that are found in mountainous/forested areas or in brackish water where salt and fresh
water meet. This is usually found in coastal areas.

5. Who are at risk in getting malaria?

 Children
 Pregnant women
 Indigenous peoples
 Forest workers, miners, soldiers
 Persons who are not from a malarious area and will travel to this area
6. How can a person become infected with malaria?

A person can become infected with malaria if he/she was bitten by an infective Anopheles
mosquito.

7. Can a person get malaria form drinking water with mosquito eggs in the
streams?

No. The malaria parasite has to undergo development inside the adult female mosquito; therefore
one cannot get malaria form drinking water that has mosquito eggs in it.

8. Is malaria present throughout the country?

In the country, 57 provinces are endemic for malaria. In these malaria endemic provinces, certain
municipalities have been identified as malarious areas. The Provincial Health Office concerned
has the list of municipalities & barangays where malaria transmission occurs. It is advisable to
get this information for persons who plan to visit or live and work in these provinces.

The remaining 22 provinces are malaria-free. The threat of re-emergence of malaria in malaria-
free provinces is still there. However, to ensure that there will be no re-emergence of malaria in
these malaria-free provinces, several strategies have to be in place. These are: 1) strengthen
surveillance of suspect malaria cases in the area 2) early diagnosis and prompt treatment of
malaria cases 3) continuous mosquito vector control surveillance, 4) health education materials
regarding the symptoms of malaria and 5) community involvement to support strategies in
maintaining their province as malaria-free.

9. Do the people living in these endemic areas continue to get sick of malaria?

Persons who are living in malaria endemic areas may develop partial immunity to the disease.
They may not manifest symptoms of malaria but when their blood smear is examined under the
microscope, one can see malaria parasites in his/her blood smear.

10. What is the treatment for malaria?

Malaria is treated by taking the appropriate anti-malarial medicines against the particular malaria
species found in the blood smear of the patient. A blood smear has to be done to find out what
particular species is present in the patient’s blood. It is also advised to complete the dosage of the
anti-malarial medicine prescribed to him/her.

11. Is there a vaccine against malaria?

At present, there is no vaccine against malaria. However, malaria vaccine development is still
on-going.
12. What are the preventive measures?

For those living in a malarious area

 Sleep inside an insecticide-treated mosquito net every night.

 Screen windows and doors (if a family can afford to do so) or in the sleeping area.
 Wear long sleeves and long pants during night time activities.
 Use mosquito coil during night time activities,
 Apply insect repellent on exposed skin during night time activities. Read and follow the
directions specified on the insect repellent label.
 Consult immediately to the nearest health facility when experiencing symptoms of malaria and
complete the medications as instructed. Do not self-medicate.

For persons going to a malaria endemic area

 Consult the Provincial Health Office or Rural Health Unit of the province/area for medical advice.
 Chemoprophylaxis is given as follows: Doxycycline 100 mg daily for 2 � 3 days before going to
an endemic area, continue while in the endemic area and continue for 4 more weeks after
leaving the endemic area.
 NOTE: Doxycycline is contraindicated in pregnant women and children 8 years old and below. It
is advisable for pregnant women to postpone their travel to an endemic area.
 NOTE: Taking chemoprophylaxis is not 100% assurance that one will not get sick of malaria Be
extra cautious while staying in an endemic area and employ personal protective measures.
 Preferably, windows and doors of sleeping quarters are screened. If not, sleep inside an
insecticide-treated mosquito net or inside a conventional mosquito net every night.
 Wear long sleeves and long pants during night time activities.
 Use mosquito coil during night time activities.
 Use insect repellent during night time activities.
 In case you develop symptoms of malaria while in the area or after coming form an endemic
area, consult a physician and inform him/her that you went to a malaria endemic area and have
stayed overnight (history of travel to an endemic area) so that a blood smear will be taken and
appropriate treatment be given.