Mumps is a disease that affects?

ESIC Nursing Officer 2016 (shift-1)

Medical Surgical Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: ESIC Nursing Officer 2016 (shift-1)

Explanation

Mumps is a viral illness also known as epidemic parotitis, which directly points to its primary target.
The most characteristic feature of mumps is the painful swelling of the parotid glands, which are the largest salivary glands, located just in front of the ears.
While other salivary glands (submandibular, sublingual) can be involved, inflammation of the parotid gland is the hallmark sign of the infection.

Option B: The tongue is a muscular organ involved in taste and speech; it is not a gland and is not a primary site for the mumps virus infection.
Option C: This option is too general. Although the parotid gland is a type of salivary gland, mumps has a specific predilection for the parotid gland. In medical questions, the most specific and accurate answer is the best choice.
Option D: The thyroid is an endocrine gland located in the neck that produces hormones to regulate metabolism. It is not a salivary gland and is not affected by the mumps virus.

Visual 1: Diagram: Location of the major salivary glands (parotid, submandibular, sublingual) to help visualize the primary site of mumps.
Visual 2: Clinical Image: A patient with characteristic parotid swelling (parotitis) due to mumps.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Primary site of Mumps infection helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Nurses must implement droplet precautions for hospitalized patients with mumps for at least 5 days after the onset of swelling to prevent nosocomial transmission.
Key nursing care focuses on symptomatic relief: managing pain and fever, providing a soft diet to avoid painful chewing, ensuring adequate hydration, and applying compresses to swollen glands.
What if? If a post-pubertal male patient with mumps complains of testicular pain and swelling, the nurse must immediately suspect orchitis, a common and painful complication that can affect fertility. Interventions include providing scrotal support, applying cold packs, and notifying the physician.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key term in the question: 'Mumps'.
Recall the common name for mumps, which is 'epidemic parotitis'.
Break down the term 'parotitis': 'parotid' refers to the parotid gland, and '-itis' means inflammation. This directly points to inflammation of the parotid gland.
Evaluate the options. 'Parotid gland' is a specific anatomical structure. 'Salivary gland' is a broader category.
In medical and nursing questions, when a specific option and a general option are both technically correct, the more specific option is usually the intended answer.
Eliminate clearly incorrect options. The 'Tongue' is a muscle, and the 'Thyroid' is an endocrine gland, neither of which is the primary target of the mumps virus.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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