What is the Difference Between Mumps and Parotitis?

Mumps and parotitis are related but distinct conditions. Here are the key differences between the two:

Cause: Mumps is a viral disease caused by the Mumps virus, which is a member of the paramyxoviridae family. Parotitis, on the other hand, is the inflammation of one or two of the parotid glands, which can be caused by various factors, including viruses, bacteria, and other non-infectious causes.
Symptoms: Both mumps and parotitis can result in swelling and pain of the parotid glands. However, mumps is typically associated with additional symptoms such as low-grade fever, myalgia, anorexia, malaise, and headache.
Complications: Mumps can lead to serious complications, including orchitis, meningitis, encephalitis, acute pancreatitis, croup, interstitial pneumonia, and polyarthritis. Parotitis itself can cause facial disfigurement.
Transmission: Both conditions are contagious and can be transmitted through respiratory droplets and direct contact with saliva.
Diagnosis: While mumps is diagnosed based on the presence of specific symptoms and known exposure to the virus, parotitis can be diagnosed by serum and urinary amylase rise during the first week of illness.

In summary, mumps is a viral disease that primarily affects the parotid glands and can lead to various complications, while parotitis is the inflammation of the parotid glands and can be caused by multiple factors. Although both conditions share some common symptoms, they have distinct differences in terms of cause, complications, and diagnosis.