mumps
an infectious disease of childhood, usually occurring in those between the ages of five to 15 and caused by a virus that produces INFLAMMATION of the PAROTID GLANDS . The INCUBATION period is two to three weeks, followed by symptoms including feverishness, headache, sore throat and vomiting, before or along with a swelling of the parotid gland on one side of the face. The swelling may be confined to one side or spread to the other side of the face and also may go on to include the submaxillary and sublingual SALIVARY GLANDS beneath the jaw. Generally, after a few days the swelling subsides and the child recovers but remains infectious until the glands have returned to normal. The infection may spread to the pancreas and, in 15-30 percent of males, to the TESTICLES . In adult men this can cause sterility. More rarely, inflammation in females can affect the ovaries and breasts, and MENINGITIS is another occasional complication, especially in adults. A protective vaccine is now available (see MMR VACCINE ).
Mumps is an illness caused by the mumps virus. It starts with:
- Fever
- Headache
- Muscle aches
- Tiredness
- Loss of appetite
After that, the salivary glands under the ears or jaw become swollen and tender. The swelling can be on one or both sides of the face. Symptoms last 7 to 10 days. Serious complications are rare.
You can catch mumps by being with another person who has it. There is no treatment for mumps, but the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine can prevent it.
Before the routine vaccination program in the United States, mumps was a common illness in infants, children and young adults. Now it is a rare disease in the U.S.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
mumps