In short
Mumps causes painful swelling of the glands in front of the ears and usually clears within two weeks. It is catching from a few days before the swelling until five days after, and two vaccine doses give strong protection.
Emergency if: A very bad headache, vomiting, stiff neck, dislike of bright light, confusion, a fit or fainting in someone with mumps — call emergency services now.
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01
What it looks like
The main sign of mumps is painful swelling around the cheeks and jaw, just in front of and below the ears, getting worse over a few days. It often starts on one side before spreading to both, though it can stay one-sided or not appear at all. Before the swelling there may be a few days of fever, headache, aching muscles, tiredness and loss of appetite.
It is also possible to have mumps with no symptoms, which is part of why it spreads. Symptoms typically appear sixteen to eighteen days after infection, with a range of about twelve to twenty-five days, so it can surface a long time after the contact that caused it.
02
How it spreads, and how long to stay home
Mumps is a virus spread through saliva and droplets from coughing, sneezing and talking, and by sharing cups, bottles and cutlery. A person can pass it on from a few days before the glands start to swell until about five days after the swelling begins.
Stay off work, or keep children out of school or nursery, for at least five days after the swelling starts. Wash hands often, use tissues and bin them, and do not share towels, bedding, cups or cutlery. Because mumps spreads easily, phone your doctor's surgery before going in rather than sitting in a waiting room.
03
Looking after it at home
There is no specific treatment for mumps; it usually gets better on its own within about two weeks. Rest, drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration, and use paracetamol or ibuprofen to ease the swelling, aches and pain. A warm towel held gently against the cheeks and neck can help.
Chewing can be painful, so soft foods that need little chewing are easier. Do not give aspirin to anyone under sixteen. A doctor can arrange a test to confirm the diagnosis, which matters because mumps is easily confused with other causes of swollen glands.
04
Complications, with their real frequency
Complications are more likely in teenagers and adults than in young children, and usually do not cause serious long-term problems. The best known is orchitis — painful swelling of the testicles — which has been reported in about three in ten unvaccinated males after puberty and around six in a hundred vaccinated ones. About half of those affected develop some shrinkage of the testicle, but studies have not shown that it causes sterility.
Swelling of the ovaries, meningitis, inflammation of the pancreas and hearing loss — usually temporary and in one ear — can also occur. In unvaccinated people meningitis has been reported in up to about one in ten and pancreatitis and hearing loss in up to about four in a hundred; since vaccination became widespread each is seen in around one in a hundred or fewer. Inflammation of the brain is the most serious complication and is rare.
05
The vaccine
Mumps is prevented by the combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccine — in some programmes also combined with chickenpox — given as two doses in childhood. One dose is about 72 per cent effective against mumps and two doses about 86 per cent, which is why the second dose matters and why outbreaks still occur, mainly among young adults in close contact.
Older children and adults who missed vaccination can still have it. If you have had both doses, or have had mumps before, a mumps diagnosis is unlikely. Speak to a doctor if you have been in close contact with someone who has mumps and have not had two doses.
06
When to get help
Get urgent medical advice if someone with mumps develops abdominal or back pain, or painful or swollen testicles. These suggest inflammation of the pancreas or of the testicles and need assessment rather than waiting it out.
Call emergency services if someone with mumps has a very bad headache, is vomiting, has a stiff neck or finds bright light painful, is confused or disoriented, has a fit, or faints. Those are the signs of meningitis or inflammation of the brain.
When to act
Routine — see a doctor
Painful swelling in front of the ears in someone otherwise coping: rest, fluids and pain relief at home, and stay away from others for five days after the swelling starts.
Same-day — call promptly
Mumps with abdominal or back pain, or painful or swollen testicles, which need assessment for pancreatitis or orchitis.
Emergency — act now
A very bad headache, vomiting, stiff neck, dislike of bright light, confusion, a fit or fainting in someone with mumps — call emergency services now.
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Sources
- Mumps — NHSnhs.uk
- About Mumps — CDCcdc.gov
- Mumps Vaccination — CDCcdc.gov
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