Mumps

Mumps is an infection that spreads easily. Before the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine came in, it was common in children. These days it's seen less often, but the infection itself hasn't changed. Mumps usually clears within 1 or 2 weeks.

Mumps symptoms usually show up 14 to 25 days after you're infected.

The illness causes painful swellings at the side of the face, under the ears. These are the parotid glands, and when they swell they give a distinctive "hamster face" look.

Other symptoms of mumps can include:

• headaches
• joint pain
• feeling sick
• dry mouth
• mild stomach (abdominal) pain
• feeling tired
• loss of appetite
• a high temperature (fever) of 38°C (100.4°F), or above

These may start a few days before the parotid glands swell.

Sometimes mumps doesn't cause any noticeable symptoms at all.

• you think you or your child might have mumps
• you've been in close contact with someone who has mumps, you're pregnant, and you haven't been fully vaccinated

Mumps is not usually serious, but its symptoms look like those of more serious infections, such as glandular fever and tonsillitis.

Phone your doctor before you go in. They can make arrangements to lower the risk of passing the infection on to others.

Your doctor can usually diagnose mumps after:

• seeing and feeling the swelling
• looking at the position of the tonsils in the mouth
• checking your temperature to see if it's higher than normal

If your doctor suspects mumps, they should notify your local health protection team (HPT).

Most cases of mumps happen in people aged between 17 and 34 who have not had 2 doses of the MMR vaccine.

Once you've had mumps, your body builds up resistance (immunity) to the virus. It's highly unlikely you'll get it again.

Mumps spreads through tiny droplets that come out of the nose and mouth when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The mumps virus is carried in those droplets.

You can easily catch mumps by breathing the droplets in. You can also catch it if the droplets have settled on a surface and you touch that surface, then put your hands near your nose or mouth.

A person is most contagious a few days before the symptoms develop and for a few days afterwards.

If you have mumps, there are a few things you can do to stop it spreading to other people:

• stay off school or work for at least 5 days after your symptoms first develop
• wash your hands often with soap
• use tissues when you sneeze, and throw them away afterwards
• avoid close contact with anyone who isn't fully vaccinated

You can prevent mumps by having the MMR vaccine. If you haven't been fully vaccinated before, you can still get the vaccine at any age.

• Get plenty of bed rest.
• Drink plenty of water so you don't become dehydrated.
• Use pain relief such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. Don't give aspirin to children under 16.
• Hold a warm or cool compress against the swollen glands to help ease the pain.
• Eat foods that don't need much chewing, such as soup, mashed potatoes and scrambled eggs.

Mumps usually passes without causing serious damage to your health, and serious complications are rare.

Still, mumps can lead to viral meningitis if the virus moves into the outer layer of the brain. It can also cause swelling of the testicles in males, or of the ovaries in females, if the person has gone through puberty.

About 1 in 20 cases of mumps lead to acute pancreatitis. This is usually mild, but you may be admitted to hospital so your body functions can be supported until your pancreas recovers.

About 1 in 20 people with mumps have some temporary hearing loss. Permanent loss of hearing is rare.