Mumps is an extremely contagious viral infection of the salivary glands that most commonly

affects children. The most obvious symptom is swelling of the salivary glands, giving the patient
a "hamster-like" face.
The affected salivary glands are called the parotid glands; sometimes, the mumps virus
can also cause inflammation of the testis, ovary, pancreas, or meninges (membranes
that surround the brain and spinal cord).

Once someone has had mumps, they usually become immune to future infections.

To reduce the spread of mumps, the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine is
often given at an early age to build immunity to the virus. Since the MMR vaccination
was brought in, there has been a 99 percent decrease in mumps cases in the United
States.

Symptoms of mumps

Mumps most commonly affects the salivary glands.

The symptoms of mumps normally appear 2-3 weeks after the patient has been
infected. However, almost 20 percent of people with the virus do not suffer any
symptoms at all.

Initially, flu-like symptoms will appear, such as:

Body aches

Headache

Loss of appetite and/or nausea

General fatigue

Fever (low-grade)

Over the next few days, the classic symptoms of mumps will develop. The main
symptom is painful and swollen parotid glands, one of three sets of salivary glands; this
causes the person's cheeks to puff out. The swelling normally does not occur in one go
- it happens in waves.

Other associated symptoms can include:

Pain in the sides of the face where it is swollen.

Pain experienced when swallowing.

 Trouble swallowing.

Fever (up to 103 degrees Fahrenheit).

A dry mouth.

Pain in joints.

Rarely, adults can contract mumps. In these cases, the symptoms are generally the
same, but sometimes slightly worse and complications are slightly more likely.

Causes of mumps

Mumps is due to an infection by the mumps virus. It can be transmitted by respiratory

secretions (e.g. saliva) from a person already affected with the condition. When
contracting mumps, the virus travels from the respiratory tract to the salivary glands and
reproduces, causing the glands to swell.

Examples of how mumps can be spread include:

Sneezing or coughing.

Using the same cutlery and plates as an infected person.

Sharing food and drink with someone who is infected.

Kissing.

An infected person touching their nose or mouth and then passing it onto a surface that
someone else may touch.

Individuals infected with the mumps virus are contagious for approximately 15 days (6
days before the symptoms start to show, and up to 9 days after they start). The mumps
virus is part of the paramyxovirus family, a common cause of infection, especially in
children.

Treatment for mumps

Drinking plenty of fluids may help to relieve the symptoms of mumps.

Because mumps is viral, antibiotics cannot be used to treat it, and at present, there are
no anti-viral medications that can treat mumps.
 Current treatment can only help relieve the symptoms until the infection has run its
course and the body has built up an immunity, much like a cold. In most cases, people
recover from mumps within 2 weeks.

Some steps can be taken to help relieve the symptoms of mumps:

Consume plenty of fluids, ideally water - avoid fruit juices as they stimulate the
production of saliva, which can be painful.

Place something cold on the swollen area to alleviate the pain.

Eat mushy or liquid food as chewing might be painful.

Get sufficient rest and sleep.

Gargle warm salt water.

Take painkillers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

Complications of mumps

Complications are more frequent in adults than children, the most common are:

Orchitis - testicles swell and become painful, this happens to 1 in 5 adult males with
mumps. The swelling normally goes down within 1 week; tenderness can last longer
than that. This rarely results in infertility.

Oophoritis - ovaries swell and are painful; it occurs in 1 in 20 adult females. The
swelling will subside as the immune system fights off the virus. This rarely results in
infertility.

Viral meningitis - this is one of the rarest of the common complications. It happens
when the virus spreads through the bloodstream and infects the body's central nervous
system (brain and spinal cord).

Inflamed pancreas (pancreatitis) - pain will be experienced in the upper abdomen;

this occurs in 1 out of 20 cases and is usually mild.

If a pregnant woman contracts mumps in the first 12-16 weeks of her pregnancy, she
will have a slightly increased risk of miscarriage.

Rarer complications of mumps include:

 Encephalitis - the brain swells causing neurological issues. In some cases, this can
be fatal. This is a very rare risk factor and affects just 1 in 6,000 cases.

Hearing loss - this is the rarest of all the complications affecting just 1 in 15,000.

As rare as some of these complications are, it is important to seek medical advice or

help if an individual suspects they or their child, may be developing them.

Tests and diagnosis of mumps

Normally, mumps can be diagnosed by its symptoms alone, especially by examining the
facial swelling. A doctor might also:

Check inside the mouth to see the position of the tonsils - when infected with mumps, a
person's tonsils can get pushed to the side.

Take the patient's temperature.

Take a sample of blood, urine, or saliva to confirm diagnosis.

Take a sample of CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) from the spine for testing - this is usually
only in severe cases.

Prevention of mumps

The MMR vaccine will prevent mumps, measles, and rubella.

The mumps vaccine is the best method for preventing mumps; it can come on its own or
as part of the MMR vaccine. The MMR vaccine also defends the body against rubella
and measles.

The MMR vaccine is given to an infant when they are just over 1 year old and again, as
a booster, just before they start school.

Anyone born after the 1990s would most probably have been given the MMR vaccine
but, if unsure, it is always good to check with a doctor.

The mumps vaccine is routinely given to children in 82 countries. In many of these

countries, encephalitis and deafness related to mumps have nearly disappeared.

Mumps is best known for the puffy cheeks and swollen jaw that it causes. This is a
result of swollen salivary glands.
The most common symptoms include:

Fever
Headache
Muscle aches
Tiredness
Loss of appetite
Swollen and tender salivary glands under the ears on one or both sides (parotitis)

Symptoms typically appear 16-18 days after infection, but this period can range from
12-25 days after infection.

Some people who get mumps have very mild or no symptoms, and often they do not
know they have the disease.

Most people with mumps recover completely in a few weeks.

Mumps can occasionally cause complications, especially in adults.

Complications include:

inflammation of the testicles (orchitis) in males who have reached puberty; rarely
does this lead to fertility problems
inflammation of the brain (encephalitis)
inflammation of the tissue covering the brain and spinal cord (meningitis)
inflammation of the ovaries (oophoritis) and/or breast tissue (mastitis)
deafness

Mumps (parotitis) facts

Mumps is a highly contagious viral infection.

Mumps has an incubation period of 14-18 days from exposure to onset of symptoms. The
duration of the disease is approximately seven to 10 days.

The initial symptoms of mumps infection are nonspecific (low-grade fever, malaise, headache,
muscle aches, and loss of appetite). The classic finding of parotid gland tenderness and swelling
generally develops the third day of illness. The diagnosis is generally made without the need for
laboratory tests.

Serious health complications of mumps include meningitis, encephalitis, deafness, and orchitis.

The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine provides 88% effective immunity against mumps
following a two-dosage schedule (12-15 months with booster at 4-6 years of age). A single
mumps vaccination protects approximately 78% of individuals against the disease.

No specific treatment exists for mumps. Warm or cold packs for the parotid gland tenderness
and swelling is helpful. Pain relievers (acetaminophen [Tylenol] and ibuprofen [Advil]) are also
helpful.
Mumps virus is a single strand of RNA housed inside a two-layered envelope that

provides the virus its characteristic immune signature. Only one type of mumps virus

has been demonstrated to exist (in contrast to the many virus types that can cause

the common cold).

Mumps is highly contagious on the order of magnitude of both influenza and rubella

(German measles). It is, however, less contagious than measles

and varicella (chickenpox). It is transmitted only from human to human. Mumps has a

rapid spread among members living in close quarters. The virus most commonly is

spread directly from one person to another via respiratory droplets expelled

during sneezing or coughing. Less frequently, the respiratory droplets may land on

fomites (sheets, pillows, clothing) and then be transmitted via hand-to-mouth contact

after touching such items. Animals cannot contract or spread mumps.

What is the incubation period for mumps?

There is a 14-18-day period between contracting the mumps virus and onset of

symptoms and signs. Viral shedding is short lived and a patient should be isolated from

other susceptible individuals for the first five days following the onset of swelling of the

salivary (parotid) glands.

What is the contagious period for mumps?

The highest likelihood of spreading mumps covers the period of two days before the

onset of symptoms and the first five days of parotid gland swelling and tenderness.

How long does mumps last?

Routine cases of mumps last approximately seven to 10 days.

What are risk factors for contracting mumps?

 1. Failure to vaccinate completely (two separate doses) with exposure to those with

mumps

2. Age: The highest risk of contracting mumps is to a child between 2-12 years of

age.

3. Season: Outbreaks of mumps were most likely during the winter/spring seasons.

4. Travel to high-risk regions of the world: Africa, general Indian subcontinent

region, and Southeast Asia. These areas have a very low rate of immunization.

5. Weakening immune system: either due to diseases (for

example, HIV/AIDS, cancer) or medication (oral steroid use for more than two

weeks, chemotherapy)

6. Born before 1956: Generally, these individuals are believed to have experienced

mumps infection in childhood. However, if they did not, they are at risk for adult

mumps disease. Adult mumps is associated with a more intense disease and

higher rate of certain side effects (such as inflammation of testicles, or orchitis). A

blood test may be obtained to determine immunity and is worthwhile if any doubt

exists regarding prior mumps infection.

The mainstay of treatment (regardless of age range) is to provide comfort for this self-
limited disease. Taking analgesics (acetaminophen, ibuprofen) and applying warm or
cold packs to the swollen and inflamed salivary gland region may be helpful.

What are complications of mumps?

There are four serious health complications of mumps: meningitis (infection of the spinal

fluid which surrounds the brain and spinal cord), encephalitis (infection of the brain

substance), deafness, and orchitis (infection of the testicle/testicles). All four

complications may occur without the patient experiencing the classic involvement of the

parotid gland.

1. Meningitis: More than half of patients with mumps will have meningitis, which

may occur during any period of the disease. Generally patients make a full

recovery without permanent health side effects.

2. Encephalitis: Until the 1960s, mumps was the primary cause of confirmed viral

encephalitis in the United States. Since the successful introduction of a

 vaccination program, the incidence of mumps encephalitis has fallen to 0.5%.

Fortunately, most patients recover completely without permanent medical side

effects.

3. Deafness: Preceding the mumps immunization program, permanent nerve

damage resulting in deafness was not unusual. While occasionally bilateral, more

commonly only one ear was affected.

4. Orchitis: This complication was the most common side effect to postpubertal

males who contracted mumps. Severe pain (often requiring hospitalization

for pain management) was one-sided in most cases. Some affected testicles

atrophied (decreased in size), and some demonstrated impaired fertility. The

"common knowledge" of sterility was actually rare. Previous concerns regarding

mumps orchitis and later development of testicular cancer have not been proven.

(Ovarian involvement has been reported to occur in some postpubertal women.)

Less frequent health complications of mumps infection include arthritis, infection of the

pancreas, infection of the myocardium (heart muscle), and neurological conditions (for

example, facial palsy, Guillain-Barr syndrome, etc.).

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a combination

vaccine (MMR) to children at 12 to 15 months of age with a booster dose at 4 to 6 years

of age. During periods of possible mumps outbreaks, the booster dose may be

administered after a minimum of 28 days following the initial immunization. The MMR

immunization is designed to prevent measles, mumps, and rubella (German measles).

Adults born after 1956 should receive at least one MMR vaccination. Those born prior to

1956 are generally found to have acquired natural immunity and no vaccination is

necessary.

More common side effects of the MMR vaccine include stinging/burning at the injection

site, mild fever, and mild skin rash. The fever and skin rash most commonly develop five

to 12 days postvaccination and occur more commonly after the first vaccination. Some

recipients of the vaccine will note mild enlargement and tenderness of local (for

example, neck) lymph nodes. It should be noted that these relatively common side

effects are considerably less severe than acquiring any of the three illnesses the MMR
vaccine is designed to prevent. In extremely rare situations, more severe reactions

affecting the nervous system, gastrointestinal system, and digestive organs, the skin,

and others may occur.

Who should not get vaccinated with the MMR?

A very small population should not receive the MMR vaccine. These include individuals

with a compromised immune system (HIV/AIDS, cancer, those receiving more than two

continuous weeks of oral steroids) or who are allergic to any component of the vaccine,

including gelatin or neomycin. MMR vaccines are very unlikely to produce a severe

reaction to those who are egg white allergic. Daily use of inhaled steroids (such as

those used to control certain pulmonary diseases such as asthma, COPD, etc.) is not a

contraindication to the MMR vaccine. Patients with a mild illness (for example,

the common cold) may safely receive the MMR vaccine. Conception should be avoided

until at least 28 days following vaccination.

Multiple international studies have not demonstrated any causative relationship between

administration of the MMR vaccine and the development of autism, disproving previous

erroneous theories.