{"id":9150,"date":"2019-07-31T05:48:49","date_gmt":"2019-07-31T05:48:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=9150"},"modified":"2021-04-22T14:35:58","modified_gmt":"2021-04-22T14:35:58","slug":"14-complications-that-are-usually-associated-with-mumps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/14-complications-that-are-usually-associated-with-mumps\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Complications That Are Usually Associated With Mumps"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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With any diagnosis of mumps, the first thing a person is usually concerned with is getting themselves well and ridding their body of the illness-causing infection. The thing with mumps though, is that it isn\u2019t always as simple as that and there are some unfortunate and unpleasant complications that can occur in conjunction with mumps or as a direct result of the infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are several specifically mums related problems that often occur with mumps. These complications can be very worrying for people directly affected and for the people they know, but looking on the positive side of things, it is true that these complications are rarely very serious and that they usually improve as the infection passes and leaves the body. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This article explores 8 of those complications, shedding light on what they actually are and on what a person can expect if they are unfortunate enough to experience them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Swollen testicle<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Uncomfortable pain and swelling of the testicle <\/a>or testicles affect roughly 1 in 4 males who are infected with the condition known as mumps after puberty. The unpleasant and golf ball-like swelling is usually very sudden and in most cases affects only one testicle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There have been occasions where the swelling is bilateral, though not in most cases. It is also true that the affected testicle may feel warm and tender during the course of the swelling. In affected males, the swelling of the testicle normally starts to happen around 4 to 8 days after the original swelling of the parotid gland. In rare cases, swelling of the testicle can occur up to 6 weeks after the swelling of the glands, leaving many people confused as to how to piece together the two swellings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A swollen testicle can be something that many men feel embarrassed or worried about getting seen to, but it really is a common complication of mumps that will usually pass on its own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Painful testicle<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Any testicle pain that occurs as a complication of mumps is usually accompanied by swelling<\/a>, as discussed in the previous point. Thankfully for the billions of men around the world, this testicle pain can usually be eased significantly with the use of regular painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, that you can either buy from the pharmacy or any supermarket. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the pain happens to be particularly severe, it can be a good idea to get in contact with a doctor or health professional, who may prescribe a stronger painkiller to help with the testicle pain. By applying cold or warm compresses to your testicle and by wearing supportive underwear, a person may help also reduce any pain in the affected testicle. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is also worth noting, whilst we\u2019re talking testicles, that just under half of all males who get mumps-related orchitis will notice at least some shrinkage of their testicles with an estimated 1 in 10 men experiencing a drop in their sperm count.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Swollen ovaries<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Obviously females don\u2019t have to contend with testicle swelling or testicle pain, but this does not mean that they are immune from potential complications caused by mumps<\/a>. In fact, over 1 in every 20 females who get mumps after puberty can be expected to experience swelling of the ovaries (oophoritis), which can cause things like lower abdominal pain, a high temperature that mimics a fever, as well as actually making a person throw up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thankfully, the symptoms of oophoritis usually pass once the body has managed to fight off the underlying mumps infection, but for women who are hoping to conceive naturally, anything which interferes with the ovaries can be a real cause for concern, especially something which can cause them to swell. The relatively low prevalence of about 1 in 20 women being affected with this complication should offer some comfort unless of course, you happen to be the one in twenty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Viral meningitis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A complication that doesn\u2019t target either men or women, and that can affect either of the sexes is viral meningitis<\/a>, which can occur if the mumps virus spreads and is allowed to enter into the outer protective layer of the brain. This worrying complication actually occurs in about 1 in 7 cases of mumps, making it a little more common than some people might have previously thought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unlike its namesake, bacterial meningitis, which is regarded as a very dangerous and even potentially life-threatening medical emergency, viral meningitis causes much milder, flu-like symptoms, and the risk of serious complications is low. That said, the risk of serious complications isn\u2019t null, and so keeping a careful eye on the condition as well as any changes to symptoms is well advised. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of the characteristic symptoms of this complication include things like a temporary sensitivity to light, neck stiffness and painful headaches which all usually pass within 14 days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Pancreatitis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A complication that affects roughly 1 in every 20 cases of mumps is pancreatitis<\/a>, which is an infection to the pancreas that can become incredibly dangerous and serious if undiagnosed and untreated. The complication to the pancreas from mumps can lead to a short-term inflammation of the pancreas, otherwise known as acute pancreatitis. The most common symptom of this complication is sudden pain in the center of your belly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other symptoms of acute pancreatitis as caused by a complication of mumps can include all or some of the following symptoms. A person may have a sickly feeling or may end up being sick physically. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A person may find that they have unexplained diarrhea and a distinguishable loss of appetite that can\u2019t be otherwise explained. They may notice that they have a very high temperature as well, together with a tenderness of the belly and lower abdomen. These symptoms usually pass after the mumps has left the body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Headaches<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another common complication regularly experienced by people with mumps, headaches <\/a>are common and frequent amongst sufferers. As you have read, serious complications of mumps can affect the brain, but in most cases, headaches are mild to moderate, responding well to hydration, avoidance of light and over the counter medication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For many people with mumps, a headache and a slight fever will be the very worst symptoms they ever experience, and for that, they should perhaps be grateful. As previously stated though, a great number of people, the world over, live with mumps day in, day out, completely none the wiser about the threat of headaches. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whatever the actual cause of a headache, they still cause the person a fair amount of suffering and misery from their onset to their departure, and so sensitivity is encouraged toward anyone complaining of having a bad head. Avoiding triggers such as dehydration and invasive non-natural light sources remains a good bit of advice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Rarer complications of mumps<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Some rare but potentially very serious complications of mumps infections include things like an infection of the brain itself, which is known as encephalitis<\/a>. This is thought to occur in only around 1 in every 1,000 people who develop viral meningitis from mumps, which is something to be thankful for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Encephalitis is a potentially fatal condition that requires immediate admission to a hospital intensive care unit. Less seriously, but much more prevalent, about 1 in every 20 people affected with mumps experience some form of temporary hearing loss, but thankfully though, permanent loss of hearing is rare. It’s conservatively estimated that permanent hearing loss only occurs in around 1 in every 20,000 cases of mumps. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whilst these much more rare complications of mumps are not very prevalent, it is always a good idea to know about the potential for worse things to happen, especially if you are a parent keeping a close eye out for worrying developments or sudden changes to your child\u2019s condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Mumps and pregnancy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In the past, it was previously thought that developing mumps during pregnancy <\/a>increased the risk of miscarriage significantly, but recent findings have shown that there is actually little evidence to support this. As a general precaution though, it is widely and generally recommended that pregnant women avoid close contact with people known to have an active mumps infection or any other type of infection for that matter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If a person is pregnant and they think or are worried that they’ve come into contact with someone with mumps, it\u2019s always a good idea to seek the advice of a doctor or medical professional as soon as possible. As there is no known cure for mumps, it may be beneficial to hear about some of the possible treatment options which could help to alleviate some of the symptoms associated with the illness. Not all of these complications will affect everyone infected with mumps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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