Infectious Diseases More Infectious Diseases Mumps Guide Mumps Guide Overview Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment What Is Mumps? By Mark Cichocki, RN twitter linkedin Mark Cichocki, RN, is an HIV/AIDS nurse educator at the University of Michigan Health System for more than 20 years. Learn about our editorial process Mark Cichocki, RN Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Andy Miller, MD on July 11, 2019 Andy Miller, MD, is board-certified in infectious disease and internal medicine. He is an associate professor at Weill Cornell Medicine, associate attending physician at the Hospital for Special Surgery and New York Presbyterian Hospital and a fellow of the Infectious Disease Society of America. Learn about our Medical Review Board Andy Miller, MD Updated on July 17, 2019 Print Table of Contents View All Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment Next in Mumps Guide Mumps: Signs, Symptoms, and Complications Mumps is a viral infection that typically affects the salivary glands, producing painful swollen cheeks and fever. It is easily spread but is preventable by vaccine. There is no treatment available other than for symptom relief, with recovery usually seen in two weeks. Severe complications of mumps—including hearing loss, swollen testicles, and meningitis—are more common after puberty, although they can happen at any age. Learn how you can decrease your risk of mumps and ways to treat your child or yourself. Mumps Symptoms Some people infected with the mumps virus will have no noticeable symptoms at all. If there are symptoms, they can vary from mild to severe. These symptoms usually appear about two days after infection and can last as long as two weeks. Typically, the initial symptoms include: FeverA headacheSwollen, painful salivary glands under the ears or jaw (in about 30 percent to 40 percent of cases)Ear painFacial pain Less common but more severe symptoms and complications can include: Mild inflammation of the covering of the brain or spinal cord (meningitis) which causes moderate to severe headaches. In severe cases, brain inflammation (encephalitis) can occur.Swollen and painful testicles (orchitis). This usually resolves without complication in children, but in males infected past the age of puberty, it can result in a decreased sperm count and, very rarely, in infertility.The gradual hearing loss that is usually temporary but may be permanentRare involvement of other organs such as the heart, pancreas, and ovariesIncreased risk of miscarriage if infected in the first trimester of pregnancyIn extremely rare cases, death can occur. Symptoms of Mumps Causes Verywell The virus that causes mumps is similar to the flu virus and is spread from person to person through airborne droplets. Mumps is transmitted by coming in direct contact with saliva or discharges from the nose or mouth of an infected person. The primary routes of infection include: CoughingSneezingKissingSharing glasses or utensilsTalking in close proximityComing in contact with contaminated surfaces Vaccination with the measles, mumps, rubella, (MMR) vaccine, MMRV vaccine (which also include varicella), or a standalone (monovalent) mumps vaccine can prevent infection. Vaccination is recommended for infants age 12 to 15 months, with a second dose given between the ages of 4 to 6. Any adult born after 1957 should get MMR shots if they have not previously done so. It is especially recommended for healthcare workers and people who will be traveling internationally. Once you have had mumps, you should develop immunity and shouldn't catch it again. Rarely, the immunity due to vaccination or having had mumps doesn't develop or wanes due to a depressed immune system. Causes and Risk Factors of Mumps Diagnosis Your doctor will usually make the diagnosis of mumps based on your symptoms. Confirmatory tests may be done, including a buccal swab polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test of saliva and a blood test for antibodies. Imaging tests might be done if there are suspected complications of mumps, such as testicular swelling in adults. How Mumps Is Diagnosed Treatment The treatment for mumps is to reduce the symptoms as the virus runs its course in 10 to 12 days. There is no specific antiviral treatment and antibiotics will have no effect. Acetaminophen or ibuprofen can be used to reduce the fever and relieve pain. Cold and warm compresses can be used for the swollen glands. Mumps Doctor Discussion Guide Get our printable guide for your next doctor's appointment to help you ask the right questions. Download PDF Email the Guide Send to yourself or a loved one. Sign Up This Doctor Discussion Guide has been sent to {{form.email}}. There was an error. Please try again. You should drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration and switch to soft foods that don't need chewing. Avoid foods that provoke salivation, such as acidic foods and citrus. Gargling with warm salt water can soothe the throat. If you have swollen testicles you can wear an athletic supporter and use ice packs to reduce pain. How Mumps Is Treated A Word From Verywell If you or your child gets mumps, there is not much you can do other than relieve the symptoms. While mumps was once a childhood disease, it is now seen more rarely in local outbreaks among unvaccinated children and adults. You are more at risk of the serious complications once you are past the age of puberty, underscoring the value of vaccination. Mumps: Signs, Symptoms, and Complications Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Davison P, Morris J. Mumps. Treasure Island, Fl: StatPearls Publishing; 2019. Mumps. MedlinePlus. Feb 7, 2019. Mumps | Transmission | CDC. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Mar 15, 2019. Mumps | Vaccination | CDC. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Mar 8, 2019. Harvard Health Publishing. Mumps. Harvard Health. Apr 2019. Mumps Management and Treatment. Cleveland Clinic. Aug 6, 2018. Beleni AI, Borgmann S. Mumps in the Vaccination Age: Global Epidemiology and the Situation in Germany. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018;15(8) doi:10.3390/ijerph15081618 Additional Reading Mumps: For Healthcare Providers. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/mumps/hcp.html. Mumps. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mumps/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20375366. Papdopol R. Mumps. KidsHealth.org. https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/mumps.html. Rubin S, Eckhaus M, Rennick LJ, Bamford CG, Duprex WP. Molecular Biology, Pathogenesis and Pathology of Mumps Virus. J Pathol. 2015 Jan;235(2):242-52. doi: 10.1002/path.4445.