My Daughter with Mumps

On Monday, my daughter came home complaining of a painful neck. Our neighbor invited her at a birthday party on Sunday but because the place was quite far that she spent the night with them. Upon assessing, I knew it was a developing mumps. I can see the slight swelling and a tenderness below her right ear. She said it was painful. So I asked her if she has painful swallowing but she said none. Her teeth are perfectly well and good.

However on Tuesday, last week prior to it she came home from playing and complained of a headache. I felt her forehead and she's having a fever, thus, I gave her paracetamol. Her fever comes and goes when I give her paracetamol. So I asked her if they had played under the sun but she said no. They had been inside her playmate's house playing and didn't play outside. This went on until Thursday, that's why I didn't let her attend her daycare class. Friday, she still had a low grade fever. On the duration of her fever, she only complained of headache and no other pain. I also noticed her lack of appetite that's why I had to buy some fruits like mango and watermelon she can eat and hotdog for her viand as her request. Had to make her hydrated especially because I don't know what's causing her fever.

So on Monday, with the signs and symptoms showing I google it because I was wondering why she's not having a fever associated with it. Then I learned that fever comes first before the signs of mumps show.

My daughter had completed her vaccines for MMR. Babies usually have it on their 9th month for the first dose and at 12th month for the second dose. But last year, they again received a dose for it. I think it's a booster shot.

The lump below her ear wasn't very obvious unless you really had to look close to it. As I can observe, it's not growing in size. But she feels pain on the site when touched. I was thinking, it's the vaccines perhaps that's why it was not the same as what mumps before was.

What is mumps?

Mumps is a highly contagious viral infection which can be transmitted by infected saliva. Nevertheless, it is a vaccine-preventable and to help protect your children you need to have them vaccinated with MMR.

It's signs and symptoms were like the ones I have mentioned above like fever, headache, loss of appetite, and muscle pain. The swelling and tenderness of the parotid glands can be both side of the cheeks or only one is affected. This could last for 10 to 14 days. With no needed medication because it will go on its own not unless there were complications associated with it. Just take paracetamol for fever and pain and keep hydrated.

The Royal magic

With the introduction of vaccines that outbreaks were prevented. As I can remember during our childhood days, many children acquired the virus everytime there's an outbreak and I am one of them.

I think I was 6 year-old when my younger brother and I acquired it. My younger brother kept on whining due to the discomfort he was suffering. I felt pity towards him most especially that he's the one nearest my age. He was my constant playmate and my bestfriend. I went to him and gently stroked the affected cheek and tried to calm him. But, without my mother's knowledge I placed my hand which I used to stroke my younger brother's cheek on my own cheek. Our other playmates said it was how the mumps can be transmitted. There were little knowledge regarding health matters those days and people rely on beliefs. I don't only feel pity of my brother but I want to have a taste of that most coveted medicine every batang '90's can relate to, the Royal. Yeah, woohoo.. Finally, got to have you for myself, orange. That's what I was thinking. Have you experienced that acting sick but you can't be sick without a fever but when Royal is there to quench your selfish desire, you will feel better?

After few days, I got the virus and I was showing signs and symptoms. I asked my mama to buy me royal but I can't have it for myself. Am not that greedy and I can't swallow what I am eating or drinking without sharing it with my li'l brodr..

My mother took me to a traditional healer because she already took my li'l brother days ago and by the time I acquired it, he was already recovering. The "ikit" or grandparent in english made a mixture of the mud my mother took from the ceiling of my grandparents' house. It was not just a mud, but some variety of bee made it as its house that's why it was just a small piece of a mud. Maybe an inch or two in length. Ikit Angtod crushed the piece of mud mixed it with a green oil (I think it's an efficacent oil) then applied it on both sides of my cheeks.

During those days, there were little vaccines available and we only got our shots when we were in grade school.

When I was in third grade, I also acquired chicken pox. The only good thing about having this and mumps before teenage years was being safe from acquiring more complications that could affect some organs. Once a person had mumps or chicken pox, he already acquired lifetime immunity from it.

Closing thoughts

Vaccines are available on our local health center and it was free of charge. I just don't know in other places if it's the same. We have to comply with what the DOH requires because it's for the best of our kids. Believe me, there are some religious sects which hinder their congregation in having vaccines because it's against their teachings.

The availability of vaccines prevented outbreaks that may put our children at risk. There were times that they still acquire the virus but the severity is not that much and the risk of complications is very low compared to those who weren't vaccinated.

Have you somehow experienced it when you were younger? What remedy did your parents did?

05-27-28

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