Mumps is a viral infection of the salivary glands that causes swelling of the cheek and jaw. This swelling causes pain and discomfort during chewing. As a result, when you have mumps, you should consume the appropriate foods.
Foods to avoid during mumps
Mumps is a viral infection that belongs to the paramyxovirus family of viruses. This virus is highly contagious and more prevalent in children than in adults. The most typical symptoms are fever and swelling of the salivary glands, which cause the patient's face to seem bloated in the cheek and jaw area.
Swelling in this area might cause discomfort when eating or drinking. This viral infection can also cause appetite loss, making it difficult to achieve nutritional and hydration requirements.
You should stay away from the following types of food to make eating easier:
Solid-textured foods
When you have mumps, avoid foods with a dense texture since they make it harder to chew. Salivary gland infections cause swelling and pain while moving the jaw, especially swallowing.
As a result, you should take foods with a soft texture while avoiding foods with a harsh and tough texture. Choose nutritious foods with a soft texture, such as oatmeal, steaming rice, soup, mashed potatoes, or tofu.
Acidic foods
Acidic foods should also be avoided by mumps patients, as they may induce the salivary glands to function more intensely. Inflammatory and painful swollen glands may result from this disorder.
Spicy foods
People who have the mumps should avoid spicy foods as well since they might increase salivation, just as sour foods. In addition, eating spicy food can make it uncomfortable for you to chew.
Sticky textured foods
Sticky food made from sticky rice can also be difficult to chew. Mumps patients should avoid eating sticky meals like chewing gum, sticky rice porridge, and other processed sticky foods.
Read more: Overcoming Gatal Sore throats With Home Medicine
Home Remedies for Mumps
Mumps is a minor infection that is treatable at home. For relieving discomfort, the doctor can prescribe pain and fever medications. During the recovery process, you could try home remedies to relieve discomfort.
Several self-care treatments that can be applied at home include:
- Take adequate rest: If you are experiencing mumps, make sure you get enough rest. Infection causes the body to feel tired, making it appear weak. It is best to rest more in order to recover faster.
- Increase your fluid intake: The mumps can also make you dehydrated, just like most diseases do. Less appetite exacerbates this issue. You should therefore be sure that you drink a lot of liquids, especially warm ones.
- Cold compress: Using a cold compress might help ease pain in the jaw and neck region. Apply a cloth or towel drenched in cold water, or wrap an ice cube in a towel and place it on the area of pain.
Mumps is a self-healing infection that lasts a few days. Although it is not a serious infection, this disease can be uncomfortable. Consume soft and warm foods, such as oatmeal or soup, to help you satisfy your nutritional demands.
If you have any questions regarding mumps infection, you can either visit a doctor, a psychologist, or make use of the consultation features that are available in the Ai Care application by downloading the Ai Care application from the App Store or Play Store.
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- dr Nadia Opmalina