Mumps is an acute communicable viral disease with a painful enlargement of the salivary glands, frequently invading other tissues like the testes, pancreas and the meninges.
Water Treatments:
1. Cold compress directly on the swollen salivary glands for 30 minutes, 3 times a day.
2. Ice pack on the swollen glands for 30 minutes, 3 times a day, Apply the ice pack over the glands, just below the ears.
3. Fever sponge bath for fever.
4. Cold compress on the forehead for headache and fever.
5. Complete bed rest, especially for male adults. Sterility is one of the complications of mumps in male adults.
Procedure (cold compress):
a. Wring compress cloth from ice water. Be sure it does not drip.
b. Apply snugly on the area to be treated.
c. Change or renew compress every 2-3 minutes.
d. Treatment time: for decongestion … 20-30 minutes; fever… continuously, or as long as there fever.
e. At the end of the treatment, dry body part thoroughly with the towel and avoid chilling.
Procedure (ice pack):
a. Spread the finely crushed ice on the bath towel, forming a layer about one inch thick. Adjust the surface area as needed for the affected part. Wrap the ice and secure it with safety pins.
b. Wrap the area or joint with the flannel cloth or towel and place the ice pack, following the contour of the area.
c. Never apply an ice pack directly on the skin. Cover the packed ice with plastic and secure carefully to prevent the bed from getting wet.
d. Treatment time: 30 minutes to one hour. If there is a burning sensation during the ice pack application, the ice pack is not well insulated. Add insulator or add towel or flannel cloth.
e. To end treatment, remove the pack, dry the area and observe reaction. Treatment may be repeated after two hours in acute injuries to relieve pain and swelling.
f. Cover or bandage area to avoid chilling, especially in acute sprain ankles.
Procedure (fever sponge bath):
a. Make the patient comfortable. Remove clothing and cover with a sheet or blanket. Close windows to avoid drafts.
b. Protect the bed with the towels as each part is being sponged. Put one bath towel across the chest and sponge the face, ears, and neck. Dry the areas that had been sponged with the towel across the chest.
c. Sponge one part at a time in the following order: arms, chest, abdomen, legs, feet and back. For the arm or leg, spread the towel under the whole length of the arm or leg while it is being sponged. Rub skin briefly with the face towel to draw blood on the surface. Dry each part after the sponge to avoid chilling. Be sure the patient is dry before replacing clothing and covers. Hot drinks (Calamansi juice) may be offered to encourage perspiration.
