The first symptoms are fever, chills, headache, and loss of appetite. After 1 or 2 days, the saliva glands on one or both sides of the neck become swollen, hard, and painful. The ears may hurt, and it may become hard to chew or move the mouth. If the disease strikes a male after puberty, one or both testicles may also become red, swollen, and painful. Care Antibiotics won't help.
Care consists of making the child as comfortable as possible.
You MAY give acetaminophen for fever and pain. A warm towel or heating pad set on low may help ease the pain in the swollen glands. An ice pack also may help. Have the child rest as much as possible. The child may eat normally, but should not have foods that need lots of chewing.