Mumps is a common type of disease, mostly occurring during childhood. It is important to observe the changes in the patient's condition after onset, promptly lower their body temperature in case of high fever, monitor their temperature regularly to prevent rapid increases, and maintain oral hygiene by encouraging brushing and rinsing after meals to prevent bacterial growth in the mouth.
Here are some nursing considerations:
1. Psychological Care: When children are suffering from mumps, it is crucial to patiently communicate with their families, explain the disease and its prognosis, alleviate their concerns, and provide positive psychological support to the child. Understanding the child's psychological characteristics and treating them with a kind and proficient manner can help minimize their physical and emotional distress and gain their trust.
2. Observation of Condition: Closely monitor the patient's condition, including symptoms such as persistent high fever, severe headache, vomiting, neck stiffness, lethargy, irritability, convulsions, testicular swelling and pain. Notify the doctor promptly if any abnormalities are observed.
3. Fever Management: Mumps is a systemic viral infectious disease that often starts with fever, typically ranging from 39 to 40°C, accompanied by symptoms such as malaise and anorexia. Closely monitor temperature changes, and use physical cooling methods such as ice packs, alcohol baths, and iced saline enemas when the temperature exceeds 39°C. Observe the effectiveness of cooling measures and administer fever-reducing medication as prescribed. If the effect is not significant, use dexamethasone for a short duration and in small doses as prescribed. Advise the patient to rest in bed and change bedding promptly when sweating to prevent chilling.
4. Oral Care: Maintain oral hygiene by rinsing with diluted salt water or compound boric acid solution after meals and before bedtime to remove food debris from the mouth and teeth and prevent secondary infections. For patients who cannot rinse their mouths, provide oral care or encourage them to drink plenty of water.
5. Nursing for Complicated Meningitis: Observe patients for signs of meningitis, such as headache, vomiting, and altered consciousness, and keep accurate records. Maintain a quiet and well-ventilated environment to avoid acoustic and light stimulation. If intracranial pressure is elevated, administer mannitol intravenously as prescribed, avoiding leakage into subcutaneous tissue, and provide continuous oxygen therapy as prescribed at a rate of 1-2L/min.
6. Nursing for Complicated Orchitis: Advise patients to rest in bed completely, maintain local cleanliness, and use cotton pads and tapes to support the scrotum to avoid traction pain. Local intermittent cold compresses can be applied for severe pain, but ice packs should be avoided to prevent testicular atrophy. Closely observe the reduction of testicular swelling, the presence of testicular hydrocele, and scrotal skin edema, and notify the doctor promptly for any changes for timely management.
