Mumps

An acute viral illness, mainly of childhood. The main symptom is inflammation and swelling of one or both of the parotid glands situated inside the angle of the jaw. One attack of mumps confers lifelong immunity. Since routine MMR vaccination, epidemics of mumps no longer occur. The mumps virus is spread in airborne droplets. The incubation period is 2–3 weeks; an affected person is infectious for about a week before and up to 2 weeks after symptoms appear. Infected children often have no symptoms, or they may feel slightly unwell and have some discomfort around the parotid glands. In more serious cases, there is pain around the glands and chewing becomes difficult; one or both glands then become swollen, painful, and tender. A fever and headache may develop. The swelling subsides within a week to 10 days. When only one gland is affected, the second often swells as the first gland’s swelling subsides. Complications of mumps include viral meningitis, pancreatitis, and epididymo-orchitis. Diagnosis is usually made from the symptoms. There is no specific treatment.