What viral infection is characterized by severe inflammation of the face?

The viral infection characterized by severe inflammation of the face is mumps. Mumps is caused by the mumps virus and is specifically known for causing parotitis, which is the inflammation of the parotid glands located near the jaw and ears. This inflammation can lead to swelling of the cheeks and jaw area, giving the characteristic appearance associated with mumps.

In addition to facial swelling, mumps can also lead to other systemic symptoms such as fever, headache, and fatigue. The severe inflammation can sometimes lead to complications, including orchitis in males and oophoritis in females, affecting fertility.

The other viral infections do not typically lead to this specific facial swelling. For instance, herpes simplex usually causes localized lesions rather than generalized facial inflammation. Influenza primarily affects the respiratory system and presents with flu-like symptoms but does not cause specific swelling of the face. The Coxsackie virus typically leads to hand, foot, and mouth disease and may result in rash or lesions but does not correlate with severe facial inflammation as seen in mumps.