Mumps is a contagious disease that leads to painful swelling of the salivary glands. The salivary glands produce saliva, a liquid that moistens food and helps you chew and swallow. Mumps may also infect the central nervous system, pancreas, or testes.
The mumps are caused by a virus. The virus is spread from person-to-person by respiratory droplets (for example, when you sneeze) or by direct contact with items that have been contaminated with infected saliva.
Mumps most commonly occurs in children ages 2 – 12 who have not been vaccinated against the disease. However, the infection can occur at any age. The time between being exposed to the virus and getting sick (incubation period) is usually 12 – 24 days.
Symptoms may include face pain, fever, headache, sore throat, swelling of the parotid glands (the largest salivary glands, located between the ear and the jaw), and swelling of the temples or jaw (temporo-mandibular area).
Other symptoms of this disease that can occur in male include testicle lump, testicle pain and scrotal swelling.
You can relieve symptoms with:
- Extra fluids
- Soft foods
- Warm salt water gargles
Diet Tips Recommended by Shubi Husain To Help Control Mumps
When a person has mumps, there is a specific diet that helps them get well faster as well as helps keep down the swelling and the feeling of fatigue and malaise that usually comes with this ailment. Asia’s well known nutritionist and lifestyle celebrity Shubi Husain recommends these dietary tips for those suffering from mumps
- Try to avoid citrus fruits and citric acid when you have mumps. These usually aggravate the problem. Try to get your vitamin C from other fruits and other sources like green leafy vegetables and fruits like cantaloupes and mangoes.
- Try to increase your intake of fluids. Water, non-citrus juices, and vegetable soups and juices are ideal for faster healing.
- Since a person with mumps may find it rather difficult to chew due to the swelling of some of the parts of his face, you might want to give the patient a soft diet. This may consist of runny oatmeal, rice porridge, and other foods with similar consistencies.
- Try to keep your diet light when you have mumps. This means you should avoid such hard-to-digest products like meat and stick with vegetables and fruits for the duration of the ailment. You should also avoid processed foods since these are laden with additives that are also taxing on a person’s system.
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