Seventeen students have been treated for the parotitis so far. Parotitis is a swelling of the jaw that can often be a symptom of a bigger virus, and so far the severity of symptoms has ranged. Mindy Scott, RN, University of Kentucky director of nursing, told WDBR, “Some of these kids have had so much swelling that they can’t hardly eat, along with a fever, pain, body aches and chills, and others have very minor swelling and low grade fever.”
Medical officials speculate that whatever is causing the parotitis — which is usually a symptom of viral or bacterial infection — is contagious. The student population has been notified, and the students suffering from swollen glands have been asked to stay off campus for five days or wear a mask.
More articles on infection control:
Flu cases surpass national baseline as peak season nears
Major C. diff hospital collaboration reduces infections by 36 percent
Vascular complications of infection a result of genes, study says
