Parents in Kiambu Sub-County have been asked to take effective measures like visiting a medical physician once they children get mumps so as to avoid further problems like permanent deafness.
Kiambu District Hospital Paediatrician Ms Grace Akech, said mumps is a common epidemic among children and advised parents to take caution in the situation and ensure that necessary health measures are taken.
She said that this epidemic is caused by the mumps virus which is airborne, adding that the infection is highly contagious and spreads rapidly among people living in close quarters.
Aketch said the virus is transmitted through direct contact with an infected person through saliva for example sharing of items such as spoons.
She noted that children between the ages of five to nine are the most affected while others get infected in their early 20s.
Aketch said that once a parent suspects that their child has the infection, he or she should contact a health specialist to receive proper diagnosis.
"One can take home care such as eating soft foods, avoiding acidic fluids, increase ones intake on fluid, gargle with warm salty water and compress the swelling on their neck and face with hot and cold water," said Aketch.
The paediatrician said if no serious measures are taken, the infection can lead to other complications like permanent deafness, infections of the covering of the brain and pancreatic.
Aketch stated that once one becomes infected with the virus, he or she should take necessary precautions to avoid other infections by ensuring they wash their hands frequently with water and soap and clean any surface that they come into contact with and avoid sharing utensils with others.
She added that once a parent notices the following symptoms like pain on their child’s face, sore throat, swelling of the jaw, fever and headaches, they should seek medical care immediately to avoid the problems like permanent deafness from occurring.
Akech added that if one becomes extremely ill after being diagnosed with mumps, one should seek emergency medical attention.