What is mumps?

Mumps is a contagious illness caused by a virus. It often happens in childhood but is largely preventable with a vaccine. Mumps is easily spread by airborne droplets from the upper respiratory tract. After a person is exposed to the virus, the disease often takes 2 to 3 weeks to appear. Since the introduction of the mumps vaccine, cases of mumps in the U.S. are uncommon. But they do still occur among people who aren't vaccinated.

What causes mumps?

Mumps is caused by a virus. A person can spread mumps when they cough, sneeze, or talk. They can also spread it by sharing items, such as cups and utensils, and by touching objects with unwashed hands that are then touched by others. It is likely that mumps is contagious before swelling occurs and up to 5 days after the swelling starts.

What are the symptoms of mumps?

The most common symptoms of mumps include:

• Mild pain in the front of the neck (salivary glands) or right in front of the ears (parotid glands). Either of these glands may become swollen and sore.

• Trouble chewing.

• Testicle pain and tenderness.

• Fever.

• Headache.

• Muscle aches.

• Tiredness.

• Loss of appetite.

The symptoms of mumps may look like other conditions or health problems. Always see your doctor for a diagnosis.

How is mumps diagnosed?

Your doctor will look at your symptoms and your history of exposure to someone who has had mumps. If your doctor thinks you may have mumps, a sample will be taken. This is done by swabbing your mouth or collecting urine. The sample will be tested for the mumps virus. A blood test will also be drawn. When you have an infection, your body makes antibodies to fight it. If you have mumps, the blood test can find the antibodies in your system that are fighting the mumps virus.

How is mumps treated?

Treatment is often limited to pain medicines and plenty of fluids. Sometimes bed rest is needed for the first few days. According to the CDC, adults should stay home from work for 5 days after their glands start to swell. Children should stay out of school until symptoms have improved. Both adults and children with mumps symptoms should reduce contact with other people who live in their homes. Good basic hygiene practices are also important in disease control. This includes thorough hand-washing, covering the mouth when sneezing or coughing, and regularly cleaning often-touched surfaces.

What are possible complications of mumps?

Complications of mumps happen more often in adults than children. They may include:

• Meningitis or encephalitis. This is inflammation of the membrane that covers the brain and spinal cord or inflammation of the brain. This can lead to major consequences, including seizures, stroke, or death.

• Orchitis. This is inflammation and swelling of one or both testicles. This can lower a person's ability to produce sperm. In rare cases, it can cause sterility.

• Mastitis. This is inflammation of breast tissue.

• Parotitis. This is inflammation and swelling of one or both parotid glands on the face, in front of the ears.

• Oophoritis. This is inflammation of one or both ovaries. In rare cases, this can make it hard to get pregnant.

• Pancreatitis. This is inflammation of the pancreas.

• Deafness. Mumps can cause loss of hearing.

Can mumps be prevented?

Yes, mumps can be prevented in most cases. The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is a childhood combination vaccine. It provides immunity for most people. People who have had mumps are immune for life. According to the CDC, adults who don’t have evidence of immunity to mumps should get at least one dose of the MMR vaccine. Talk with your doctor if you have not been vaccinated against mumps or had the illness.

Key points about mumps in adults

• Mumps is a contagious illness caused by a virus. It often happens in childhood but is largely preventable with a vaccine.

• A person can spread mumps by coughing, sneezing, or talking. It can also be spread by sharing items, such as cups and utensils. It can also spread if you touch objects with unwashed hands that are then touched by others.

• Symptoms include swollen, sore glands in the front of the neck or in front of the ears, trouble chewing, fever, headache, and testicle pain and tenderness.

• Treatment is often limited to pain medicines and plenty of fluids. Sometimes bed rest is needed the first few days.

• Complications can include meningitis or encephalitis, inflammation of breast tissue, pancreatitis, and deafness.

Next steps

Here are some tips to help you get the most from a visit to your doctor:

• Know the reason for your visit and what you want to happen.

• Before your visit, write down questions you want answered.

• Bring someone with you to help you ask questions and remember what your doctor tells you.

• At the visit, write down the name of a new diagnosis and any new medicines, treatments, or tests. Also write down any new instructions your doctor gives you.

• Know why a new medicine or treatment is prescribed and how it will help you. Also know what the side effects are.

• Ask if your condition can be treated in other ways.

• Know why a test or procedure is recommended and what the results could mean.

• Know what to expect if you don't take the medicine or have the test or procedure.

• If you have a follow-up appointment, write down the date, time, and purpose for that visit.

• Know how you can contact your doctor if you have questions, especially after office hours and on weekends and holidays.