Mumps (parotitis) as risk factor of "Sudden deafness"

 Mumps (parotitis) as risk  factor of  "Sudden deafness"

dr. Nyilo Purnami, Sp.THT-KL (K)

Mumps is caused by Paramyxovirus infection. The initial symptoms usually are not obvious when a person infected with mumps virus. The incubation period is 12-25 days.  The symptoms generally as  malaise, pain and swelling around the neck, ear pain, pain on swallowing, occurred especially within the first 2 days and  accompanied by headache and mild fever. Cheek  swelling in the lower jaw near the ear ache. These symptoms will be reduced after 1 week and disappeared after 2 weeks.

The highest incidence  on the ages of 5-9 years. Dissemination occurs and spreads very rapidly through the air breathing while coughing, sneezing or spitting.  Viral transmission occurs via droplet infection (spit sparks while talking, coughing or sneezing) at 6 days before any symptoms of swelling and 9 days after the appearance of swelling. Therefore  it is important to prevent contact transmission. Advice should be taken for not going to school or work before passing the time of transmission (9 days after onset of swelling in the salivary glands around the cheek area).
Early symptoms include fever, decreased appetite, headache.  After  that become swelling in the parotid gland / salivary glands located in the cheek and neck (about 30-40% incidence). These symptoms will  be reduced after 1 week and usually disappeared after 10 days.  Even though  can be  occurred  without any symptoms at all. How long is  the course of the disease, it depends on the immune system and malignant virus that attacks. A good immune system will heal faster. Conversely poor endurance, it will extend in longer illness. Considering  the cause is a virus, antibiotics are not needed. In general there is no specific medication for mumps, drugs are given only to reduce the symptoms alone. In order to reduce fever and pain may be given anti-fever medications and analgetics  to reduce the pain. Warm or cold compresses can be useful for reducing pain in the cheek. Cheek swelling will relieve with the  curing of mumps itself.
The condition of the body will be recovered with intake of nutritious foods, drink plenty, and enough rest that is important. At first, consuming the meal should be soft things then  no need to much chewing. Avoid acidic or spicy foods because it can stimulate the salivary glands that cause increasing the pain.


Sudden deafness

Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss is a Medical Emergency
"A person experiences sudden deafness  should visit their doctor immediately. "
Delay in treatment, 2 weeks or more after symptoms begin, will be able to reduce the chance of recovery of hearing function. Hearing test (audiogram) should be conducted to determine the severity of hearing loss.

Although rare, nerve deafness is one of the complications of mumps that are serious and can be settled. Hearing loss suddenly attacked, usually on one side of the ear (80%) but can also occur on both sides. The onset of hearing loss occurred within hours or less than 3 days, which could then be improved and returned to normal as before or even progressively become permanent damage of the cochlear organ (cochlea). Around 30-60% hearing improved within 2 weeks. Therefore the time was a critical and decisive for recovery of hearing function. Healing can be slow until 1-3 months later. Often accompanied by a sudden onset of hearing loss buzzing ears and a sense of vertigo symptoms, the perceived view was spinning, shaking and nausea or vomiting. Sudden deafness should be addressed immediately. Appropriate treatment (particularly treatment with oral steroids) administered immediately to prevent permanent deafness.
This is important to improve the general body condition. Good rest and bed rest if necessary, more over with sufficient eating amount of nutritious foods. Vitamins benefit to assist for immediate recovery of the body. The longer the hearing loss is more difficult to recover back to normal.

Mumps is not a dangerous disease but can cause serious complications (although rare) so it would be better if it can be prevented by the MMR immunization. MMR vaccine (Measles, Mumps and Rubella)Is a combination vaccine to prevent measles, mumps and rubella vaccine that is known as MMR.  This vaccine can be given twice. First since children aged 12-18 months and the second during the school or adulthood, especially high risk of contracting the disease. Giving the vaccine to the mother before pregnancy are very useful for preventing deafness in babies conceived, due to rubella infection during pregnancy, especially when it occurs during the early months. Although not proven to cause birth defects, mumps vaccine should not be given to pregnant women or women planning to pregnant within three months.
Serological blood tests is necessary to detect the presence of infection,  regarding  the transmission can be carried in the mother before pregnancy. It is important to ensure that there is no virus attacks  during pregnancy.