Mumps

What is mumps?

It is an infection caused by the mumps virus.

Who can get mumps?

Anyone who is not immune from either previous mumps infection or from vaccination can get mumps. Before the routine vaccination program was introduced in the United States, mumps was a common illness in infants, children and young adults. Because most people have now been vaccinated, mumps is now a rare disease in the United States. Of those people who do get mumps, up to half have very mild, or no symptoms, and therefore do not know they were infected with mumps.

What are the symptoms of mumps?

The most common symptoms are fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness andloss of appetite followed by onset of parotitis (swollen and tender salivary glands under the ears -- on one or both sides).

Are there complications of mumps?

The most common complication is the inflammation of the testicles (orchitis) in males who have reached puberty, but rarely does this lead to fertility problems.
Other rare complications include:

• Inflammation of the brain and/or tissue covering the brain and spinal cord (encephalitis/meningitis)

• Inflammation of the ovaries (oophoritis) and/or breasts (mastitis) in females who have reached puberty

• Spontaneous abortion particularly in early pregnancy (miscarriage)

• Deafness, usually permanent

How soon do symptoms appear?

Symptoms typically appear 16-18 days after infection, but this period can range from 12-25 after infection.

How is mumps spread?

Mumps is spread by mucus or droplets from the nose or throat of an infected person, usually when a person coughs or sneezes. Surfaces of items (e.g. toys) can also spread the virus if someone who is sick touches them without washing their hands, and someone else then touches the same surface and then rubs their eyes, mouth, nose etc. (this is called fomite transmission).

How long is an infected person able to spread the disease?

Mumps virus has been found in respiratory secretions 7 days before until 8 days after onset of parotitis. The highest isolation rates (~90%) occur closest to parotitis onset and decline rapidly thereafter. Most mumps transmission likely occurs before parotitis onset and within the subsequent 5 days. Transmission may also occur from persons who are not isolated including during the prodromal phase and from sub clinical infections. Therefore, CDC now recommends a 5-day period after parotitis onset for isolation of mumps case-patients in community and healthcare settings and for use of standard and droplet precautions.

How long should a person with mumps be isolated?

CDC recommends isolation of mumps patients for 5 days after onset of parotitis.