Children's Health
Mumps - Topic Overview
What is mumps?
Mumps is a contagious viral
infection that can cause painful swelling of the
salivary glands, especially the
parotid glands 
(between the ear and the jaw). About 1 out of 3 people with mumps
will not have gland swelling. They may have an upper respiratory tract
infection instead.
What causes mumps?
Mumps is spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes near you or shares food or drinks.
What are the symptoms?
Mumps can affect many body systems and cause flu-like symptoms, belly pain, swollen cheeks, and swollen and painful testicles. But some people who are infected with the mumps virus do not have any symptoms.
The incubation period-the time from when a person is first infected with the virus until the first symptoms are noticed-is usually 16 to 18 days, although it can be as long as 25 days. Infected people can spread the virus 1 to 2 days before symptoms start and for 5 to 9 days after symptoms start.
How is mumps diagnosed?
Mumps is most often diagnosed by a history of exposure to the disease, the presence of swelling and tenderness of the parotid glands, and other symptoms, including neck stiffness, headache, and painful testicles.
If needed, a test, such as an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA, EIA), can be done to confirm the diagnosis and rule out the possibility that another illness is causing the symptoms.
The mumps virus itself can be identified with a viral culture of samples of urine, saliva, or cerebrospinal fluid obtained by a lumbar puncture. These tests are rarely done.
How is it treated?
In most cases, people recover from mumps with rest and care at home. In complicated cases, a hospital stay may be required.
Can mumps be prevented?
Mumps can almost always be prevented by getting a series of shots with the combination measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. Two shots provide lifelong protection (immunity) against getting mumps: one at 12 to 15 months of age, the other at 4 to 6 years of age. Or your child could get the MMRV vaccine, which protects against chickenpox (varicella) as well as mumps. MMRV can be substituted for MMR in children age 12 and younger. Talk to your child's doctor about the pros and cons of the MMRV shot.
Most babies do not become infected with mumps during their first year of life because of the short-term immunity they received before birth from their mothers. Before the mumps vaccine existed, mumps was a common childhood disease in the United States.
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WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
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