The left cheek suddenly swelled up

Some people often have swollen cheeks. In fact, this situation is mostly caused by inflammatory infection, such as acute mumps. Mumps does not cause redness and swelling on both sides, but only one side starts to swell. Most of the time, it is caused by bacteria spread in the air or indirectly transmitted when kissing or using other people's tableware.

It is generally mumps, an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by the mumps virus invading the parotid gland. It is a common respiratory infectious disease among children and adolescents. It also occurs in adults and is caused by the mumps virus. The prominent symptom is non-purulent swelling and pain of the parotid gland. The virus can invade various glandular tissues or the nervous system and almost all organs such as the liver, kidneys, heart, and joints. Therefore, it can often cause symptoms such as meningoencephalitis, orchitis, pancreatitis, mastitis, and oophoritis.

How is mumps transmitted?

1. Droplets spread through the air

Most cases of mumps are caused by viral infections. Common herpes simplex virus, coxsackie virus, influenza A virus, mumps virus, etc. can all cause mumps. At the same time, these viruses can be transmitted through the air. If you are too close to the patient or virus carrier, the droplets when talking, sneezing, etc. can be transmitted through the air.

2. Transmission through saliva such as kissing or sharing tableware

The virus can be detected in the saliva of mumps patients 3 days before the onset of symptoms and 9 days after recovery. During this period, if you kiss or use tableware together with the patient, the virus can be transmitted through saliva and cause mumps.

3. Wound infection bacteria enter the parotid gland through the blood

In addition to viruses, mumps can also be caused by bacterial infection, which is called suppurative mumps. If the traumatic wound is infected and is very close to the parotid gland, bacteria can enter the parotid gland through cell fluid, lymph fluid, blood, etc., which can cause mumps.