Can you take anti-inflammatory medication for mumps?

In general, whether anti-inflammatory medication can be taken for mumps depends on the type of mumps. Anti-inflammatory drugs may be effective for bacterial mumps but are ineffective for viral mumps, which requires targeted treatment. The details are as follows:

Clinically, mumps is mainly divided into two types: bacterial and viral. Bacterial mumps is commonly caused by bacterial infections such as Staphylococcus or Streptococcus, often presenting with redness, swelling, and pain in one parotid gland, possibly accompanied by fever and pus discharge. In such cases, anti-inflammatory medications should be used under a doctor's guidance to eliminate or inhibit bacteria, control the infection, and relieve symptoms.

Viral mumps, most commonly epidemic parotitis, is caused by the mumps virus and is contagious. It typically presents with bilateral parotid gland swelling and pain, along with systemic symptoms such as fever and fatigue. Since anti-inflammatory drugs are effective only against bacteria and not viruses, they are ineffective in treating viral mumps. Management primarily involves symptomatic and supportive care, including fever reduction, pain relief, and adequate hydration, along with isolation to prevent transmission to others.

If the type of mumps cannot be clearly identified, blindly using anti-inflammatory drugs may delay proper treatment and even lead to antibiotic resistance. Therefore, individuals experiencing symptoms of mumps should seek medical attention promptly. Diagnosis should be confirmed through tests such as complete blood count and parotid ultrasound to determine the underlying cause. Treatment, including whether or not to use anti-inflammatory medication, should follow medical advice, and self-medication should be avoided.