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Lifestyle and home remedies
By Mayo Clinic staffIf you or your child has mumps, time and rest are the best treatments. There's little your doctor can do to speed recovery. But you can take some steps to ease pain and discomfort and keep others from becoming infected:
- Rest in bed until the fever goes away.
- Isolate yourself or your child to prevent spreading the disease to others. Someone with mumps is most contagious within the first five days after the onset of signs and symptoms.
- Take acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) to ease symptoms. Adults may also use aspirin. Don't give aspirin to children because of the risk of Reye's syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal disease.
- Use a cold compress to ease the pain of swollen glands.
- Wear an athletic supporter to ease the pain of tender testicles.
- Avoid foods that require lots of chewing. Instead, try broth-based soups or soft foods, such as mashed potatoes or cooked oatmeal, for nourishment.
- Avoid sour foods, such as citrus fruits or juices, which stimulate saliva production.
- Drink plenty of fluids.
- Plan low-key activities.
If your child has mumps, the most important thing you can do is to watch for complications. In boys, watch especially for high fever, with pain and swelling of the testicles. In girls, abdominal pain may mean involvement of the ovaries. Abdominal pain in boys or girls may be a sign of pancreatitis. If your child's fever is very high — 103 F (39 C) or higher — contact your doctor for advice.
