Mumps

Mumps is a viral illness that causes your salivary glands to swell painfully. This can make it hard to eat and talk. You might also have flu-like symptoms. It spreads through sneezing, coughing, talking or close contact with someone who’s infected.

Mumps is uncommon today, thanks to an effective vaccine. But outbreaks still happen sometimes.

Symptoms of mumps

The main symptom of mumps is painful swelling of your neck and cheeks around the back part of your jaw. It can make it hard to chew, swallow and talk. It can also give you an earache or jaw pain.

Other symptoms include:

• Fever
• Headache
• Muscle aches
• Tiredness
• Loss of appetite

If you have testicles, they may become swollen and painful. Some people have no symptoms but can still infect others.

Mumps causes

A virus from the genus Rubulavirus causes mumps. It infects your parotid glands. These glands make saliva and sit between the back of your jaw and your ear on each side of your face. Mumps makes them swell painfully (parotitis).

Mumps spreads through respiratory droplets. This means you get it through:

• Being near someone with mumps when they sneeze, cough or talk
• Sharing food, drinks, cups or eating utensils with someone with mumps
• Close contact (like kissing, dancing or contact sports) with someone with mumps

Risk factors

People who live closely with others, like in dorms or correctional facilities, are at a higher risk for mumps outbreaks. During outbreaks, many people get sick around the same time.

Complications

Mumps can lead to dehydration if you’re not able to eat or drink enough. It can also cause inflammation in other parts of your body. This includes your:

• Brain or its lining
• Testicles
• Ovaries
• Breasts
• Pancreas
• Heart muscle

This can lead to additional health issues, including:

• Hearing loss
• Infertility
• Transverse myelitis, damage to your spinal cord that can cause issues with movement, sensations and bladder control
• Guillain-Barré syndrome, an autoimmune disorder that damages your nerves
• Paralysis

Complications are usually more severe in adults than in children.

How doctors diagnose mumps

Healthcare providers usually diagnose mumps by testing a sample of your saliva (spit) for signs of the virus. They get a sample by swabbing the inside of your cheek. First, they might massage the swollen area of your neck for several seconds to release more of the virus into your spit.

They might also test a sample of your pee (urine), blood or spinal fluid.

How is it treated?

Like many viral infections, there’s no specific treatment for mumps. It usually gets better on its own in a week to 10 days. Your provider might recommend using a warm or cold compress on swollen areas to relieve pain.

When should I see my healthcare provider?

Talk to your provider if you or your child has symptoms of mumps or if you think you may have been exposed. They can recommend the best way to take care of yourself and let you know about any serious symptoms to look out for.

Go to the emergency room or call 911 (or your local emergency number) if you experience:

• Confusion or other mental changes
• Stiff neck
• Weakness or loss of muscle control
• Severe headache
• Not peeing or peeing very little
• Dizziness

What can I expect if I have mumps?

Mumps usually goes away on its own in a few days. It might help to have easy-to-eat foods on hand that don’t require a lot of chewing (like soup or applesauce). Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration.

Stay away from others while you’re sick to avoid spreading the virus. You’re usually most contagious from a few days before swelling begins to five days after it starts.

Sometimes, mumps symptoms can come back a few weeks or months after recovery.

Can this be prevented?

Mumps spreads easily. The best way to prevent it is with two doses of the MMR or MMRV vaccine. Many people are vaccinated in childhood. Talk to your provider if you’re not sure whether you’ve been vaccinated.

Other ways to reduce your risk include:

• Don’t share food, drinks, cups or eating utensils with others.
• Wash your hands with soap and water frequently.
• Wear an N95 mask if you need to be around someone who might have mumps.