PREVALENCE AND BURDEN OF NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES IN NORTHEAST INDIA: INSIGHTS FROM COMMUNITY MEDICINE

Background: Mumps, or parotitis, is an acute viral infection that affects the parotid glands and is caused by the RNA virus Paramyxovirus. It primarily affects children and is characterized by notable symptoms, including swelling of the parotid glands, pain, and a mild fever. Aim and objective: To assess the healthcare-seeking behaviour of patients coming with paramyxovirus (mumps) infection in a primary care unit of Assam. Methods: From September 2023 to September 2024, all patients coming to the selected hospitals were included in our study, with 185 cases in total. Out of these cases, in-depth interviews were conducted with 30 patients aged over 18 years. A predesigned and pretested interview schedule was used, which were recorded by transcribed verbatim, and coded. The codes were organized into themes, followed by a thematic analysis. Results: The result indicated that 40% belonged to the age group of 1-15 years with Males: Females ratio of 1:2. Over 95% of cases presented with swelling of the face and trismus with 65% being bilateral in presentation. Significant elevations were observed in various biomarkers, including serum amylase (100%), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (89%), and Creactive protein (CRP) (73%). Qualitative data revealed that cultural beliefs, dependence on traditional remedies, and insufficient awareness regarding the seriousness of the disease led to delays in seeking healthcare. Conclusion: The importance of public health efforts to raise awareness about mumps, addressing misconceptions about traditional remedies, and promote timely access to critical medical care and vaccinations to reduce the burden of disease