How do doctors typically diagnose mumps? What tests are usually performed?

嘿，关于腮腺炎的诊断，我分享下我的了解，希望能帮到你。

这事儿其实分两步走，医生首先会跟你聊，做个初步判断，然后要是不确定，再安排检查。

Step One: Clinical Diagnosis (Doctor's Observation and Questioning)

This is usually the first and most crucial step in diagnosis. The doctor acts like a detective, relying on typical clues to make a judgment.

1. Characteristic Swelling:

   • The most typical symptom of mumps is facial swelling, but it's not the entire face. It primarily refers to swelling centered around the earlobe, extending forward, backward, and downward. When you touch it, it will feel soft, somewhat elastic, and tender to the touch.
   • Typically, one side of the face starts to swell, and a few days later, the other side might follow.
   • The skin over the swollen area remains normal in color and temperature (this helps differentiate it from other bacterial infections).

2. Patient's Symptoms/Feelings:

   • The doctor will ask if the swollen area is painful, especially when opening your mouth or eating (particularly sour foods), and if the pain worsens.
   • They will also ask if you have flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, fatigue, or muscle aches. These symptoms usually appear one or two days before the facial swelling.

3. Contact History:

   • The doctor will also inquire if anyone around you (e.g., at school or work) has had mumps in the past one or two weeks. Since mumps is contagious, this information is very important.

For most typical cases, an experienced doctor can make a highly probable diagnosis of mumps through these steps. Especially during mumps outbreaks, diagnosis can be quicker.

Step Two: Laboratory Tests (Blood Tests, Analysis)

If the symptoms are not typical, or if the doctor needs to rule out other possibilities (such as salivary duct obstruction, swollen lymph nodes, dental issues, etc.), they might recommend some tests to confirm the diagnosis.

1. Complete Blood Count (CBC):

   • This is a basic test. In cases of viral mumps, the total white blood cell count is usually normal or low, but the proportion of lymphocytes will be elevated. This helps the doctor determine whether it's a viral or bacterial infection.

2. Serological Tests (Blood Antibody Test):

   • This is the most accurate confirmation method. Our bodies produce "antibodies" as weapons to fight off viruses.
   • The doctor will draw blood to check for antibodies specifically against the "mumps virus" (especially an antibody called IgM). If IgM is positive, it indicates that you have recently been infected with the mumps virus.

3. Virus Isolation (Less Common):

   • In some special or research circumstances, the doctor might directly look for and culture the mumps virus from your saliva, blood, or urine. This can confirm the diagnosis 100%, but it's complex and time-consuming, so it's generally not used for routine diagnosis.

In Summary

Simply put, the diagnostic process is:

Typical Symptoms (fever + painful swelling around the earlobe) + Contact History -> Doctor can generally confirm the diagnosis.

Atypical Symptoms -> Doctor might suggest a blood test, checking CBC and mumps virus antibodies for final confirmation.

So, if you suspect you have mumps, the best course of action is to see a doctor and let a professional make the diagnosis. Self-diagnosing or delaying treatment could lead to complications (such as meningitis, orchitis, etc.), which would be troublesome.