Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1913-06-18
MUMPS ARE SERIOUS
WHEN COMPLICATED
Protect Patient and Prevent Con-
tagiOn, Says the Georgia
State Board of Health.

| Atlanta, Ga.-The danger in
mumps, or what is known to medical
science as epidemic parotitis, is not
| so much in the disease itself as IN
the complications which are liable to
attend it. For this reason it is i'm
portant that the patient be carefully
protected against possible complica-
| tiOns, and also that precautions be
taken against spreading the contag-
ion, says the Georgia State Board OF
| Health
The cause of mumps has never beer
definitely determined. Like the ma
jority OF the diseases of childhood
| it is among the mysteries of medl-
cine. But it is a we'll established fact
| that the disease is contagious and
can be transmitted from one person
| to another.
While infants and adults are rare
ly attacked by mumps, they may have
it, and care should be taken to avoid
the contagion. The greatest period OF
OF liability to the disease is from
four to fifteen years of age.
MuulJS Is OuC "a liiC CtNC0N
known diseases. 1t was accurately
| described by HippOcrates, the an
| cient Greek physician who noted the
suppuration of the parot1d gland, ana
the secondary Inflammation OF the
| sexual organs was even known 10
him. 1t does not appear to be Limited
| by climate, though the colder season
in the temperate zone is more favor
able to it, and it is noted that II Is
| more frequent in prolonged cold ana
wet weather.
How the Contagion Is Spread.
1t has been demonstrated that the
contagion may be carried in various
ways. person may contract mumps
| by being directly exposed to one nav
ing the disease: indirectly by coming
| into contact with a third person VINO
has been exposed to it, or by recelV-
uing the infection from some article
| that has been used or handed by the
patient having the disease. the dang
er of contagion is not so great as III
| the eruptiye fevers, such as small
poX, scarlet fever, measles and the
| like, nor is it ordinarily accompanied
nv such serious or dangerous compll-
| cations.
Nevertheless there occur OCCASION
ally serious and sometimes very PAIN
full complications such as sloughlRJ
of the parotid glands, painful swell
ing of the sexual glands followed Of
ten by an atrophy or shriveling OF
these organs. Besides these compIl-
cations mumps has been known TO
| induce commissions, meningitis, IN"
Illumination of the joints and pancreas,
| deafness, facial paralysis, brlghts
disease and in very occasional cases.
loss of memory.
Because of these possible compli-
cations it is well to avoid exposure
| to the disease as far as possible.
Children with humps should not only
| be taken from school, but should be
isolated, and the same precautions
should be taken as in the case of 9TH
er contagious diseases. While the
thorough disinfeCtion of soiled bed
and body clothing, including handker-
chiefs and cloths used for the collec-
ton of discharges from the nose and
mouth, is regarded as important in
preventing the spread of the contag-
ion, fumigation of the room following
recovery of the patient is not regard
ed as essential.
The Symptoms of Mumps.
In an attack of mumps loss of &C
tivity is noted, accompanied by pal
lor and laasitude the child may be-
come irritable and complain OF ear
ache which will be followed by the
swelling of one side of the face, (ln
a bilateral attack both sides become
| swollen). Fever may develop, mildly
at first, and going sometimes as high
as 104. Even higher temperatures
have been noted The swelling be-
| comes CONSPICUOUS from the ear
down; the skin, pale, glistening,
and tense; the tongue coated. Chew
ing becomes a painful process; diff
fculty in caring for the mouth may
cause bad smelling breath. Nausea
and vomiting are often noted.
! Inc Time WHICH eldpSeS DeIMeSh
exposure and development of the
disease probably averages a little
more than two weeks. Contagion is
possible during the entire course of
| the a-tack and also several days af-
ter the swelling of the parotid glands
has disappeared. The patient should
be isolated, therefore, for three weeks
after the beginning of the symptoms
or for ten days after the swelling has
subsidized.
There are two parotid glands, one
on either side of the face, just in
front of and extending slightly below
the ear. Both of these glands are
usually involved, the patient having
what is sometimes called double
mumps or mumps on both sides. The
swelling is usually at its height by
| the end of the third day. 1t may ex.
tend down into the tissues of the
neck After remaining stationary for
two or three days, the swelling
! gradually diminishes and disappears,
In an attack of mumps the patient
should be isolated and a physician
called ADDliCatiOns of warm oil q 70