Pediatric Nursing Demystified

Treatment

No treatment. The infection is self-limiting.

Nursing Intervention

Administer antipyretics (acetaminophen) to relieve fever.

Soothing baths to relieve itching.

Antipruritics to relieve itching.

Explain the disorder and treatment to the family.

Nursing alert There is no need to isolate the patient because the infection is

no longer contagious when the rash appears.

Mumps

What Went Wrong?

Mumps, also known as parotitis,is a viral infection of the parotid glands

and at times the sublingual or submaxillary glands caused by the paramyx-

ovirus. The infection causes swollen glands and is spread by airborne droplets

or contact with infected saliva. The infection can become systemic or can

resolve without treatment or with treatment of symptoms alone. The disease

is highly communicable, particularly immediately before and after swelling.

The incubation period is between 12 and 25 days before the symptoms

appears.

Signs and Symptoms

Early signs:

• Prodromal phase(early manifestation of disease to period of overt
  symptoms), initial 24 hours:
  Fever
  Headache
  Malaise
  Anorexia
  Neck pain
  Fever


• Pain in jaw or ear increased with chewing


• Dehydration may result if child refuses to drink
  Late signs:


• Bilateral or unilateral enlargement of the parotid gland(s)


• Painful parotid glands


• Complications from infection may include
  Deafness (sensorineural)

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(^312) Pediatric Nursing Demystified