Introduction

Mumps is a viral infection of the parotid salivary glands which are located below and in front of the ears. In about two-thirds of mumps, both parotid glands are affected.
Mumps is caused by a contagious virus, which is transmitted through airborne droplets from the coughs and sneezes of infected people.

In adolescent boys and men, the virus may affect the testes; rarely, this may result in problems with fertility.

Mumps has become less common in the UK because of childhood immunisation with the MMR vaccine

Symptoms

The best known symptom is swollen salivary glands that cause one or both sides of the face, below and just in front of the ear to swell up and become painful. This lasts for about three or four days. There may be pain when swallowing, sore throat and fever.
However up to half of all people with mumps develop no symptoms, and in most other people the symptoms are fairly mild.

If symptoms do appear, they usually begin 2 to 3 weeks after infection. The patient is contagious for up to 7 days before symptoms first appear and for about 10 days afterwards.

About 1 in 4 adolescent boys or adult men with mumps develop an inflammation of one or both testes. The inflammation is painful and occasionally leads to sterility.

A few people who develop mumps also develop viral meningitis which usually clears up without there being any long term effects.

A less common complication of mumps is Pancreatitis which causes pain in the upper abdomen, nausea (sickness) and vomiting. Also inflammation of the ovaries which may cause pain in the lower abdomen in women.

Mumps used to be one of the most common causes of nerve deafness.

Treatment

The patient should drink plenty of cool fluids. Paracetamol will reduce the mild fever. Adolescent boys and men who have severe inflammation of the testes may be prescribed a stronger painkiller.

 

Extract taken from NHS Direct www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk