What to do if your child has mumps? ——A complete guide to symptoms, care and prevention
Recently, topics related to mumps in children have become increasingly popular on major parenting forums and medical platforms. Mumps is an infectious disease caused by a virus, mostly affecting children aged 5-15 years. This article will combine the hot discussions on the Internet in the past 10 days, from symptom identification, home care to preventive measures, to provide you with a structured data guide.
1. Typical symptoms of mumps

The early symptoms of mumps can easily be confused with a cold, but the following characteristics can help parents quickly identify:
| Symptoms | frequency of occurrence | duration |
|---|---|---|
| Swelling and pain under the earlobe | 98% of cases | 7-10 days |
| Fever (38-40℃) | 85% of cases | 3-5 days |
| Difficulty chewing and swallowing | 90% of cases | accompanied by swelling period |
| Headache and fatigue | 70% of cases | 2-3 days |
2. Key points of home care
According to the recommendations of pediatricians, you need to pay attention to the following nursing measures after diagnosis:
| nursing project | Specific methods | Things to note |
|---|---|---|
| Diet management | Liquid/soft foods, avoid acidic foods | Eat small and frequent meals to ensure nutrition |
| pain relief | Apply cold compress to the swollen area (15 minutes each time) | Avoid frostbite to skin |
| heat treatment | Physical cooling + medication guided by doctor | Aspirin is prohibited |
| isolation protection | Separate tableware and towels, avoid going out | The infectious period is about 9 days |
3. When do you need immediate medical attention?
Please seek medical attention promptly if the following situations occur:
• Persistent high fever that does not go away for more than 3 days
• Severe headache with vomiting (warning for meningitis)
• Swelling and pain in testicles (in adolescent boys)
• Abdominal pain and bloating (may be complicated by pancreatitis)
4. Big data on preventive measures
According to the latest statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
| prevention method | efficient | Implementation recommendations |
|---|---|---|
| MMR vaccine | 88%-95% | 1 dose each for 8 months old and 18 month old |
| Avoid contact with sick people | 76% | Isolate within 9 days after onset of illness |
| Enhance immunity | auxiliary effect | Balanced diet + regular work and rest |
5. Selected popular questions and answers
Q: Can I get mumps again if I have it?
A: Most patients can obtain lifelong immunity after recovery, but there is a 2%-5% chance of recurrence.
Q: How to protect yourself during an outbreak in kindergarten?
A: It is recommended that children who have not been vaccinated not enter the kindergarten temporarily, and classrooms need to be disinfected daily and maintained with ventilation.
Q: Is it useful to apply cactus as a folk remedy?
A: There is no medical evidence to support it. It may cause skin allergies. Standard treatment is recommended.
Conclusion:Although mumps is common, it should not be taken lightly. Through scientific care and early prevention, the risk of complications can be effectively reduced. If symptoms continue to worsen, be sure to seek professional medical help promptly.