Mumps

Published by Bupa's Health Information Team, January 2011.

This factsheet is for people who have mumps, or who would like information about it.

Mumps is an infectious illness caused by the mumps virus, which belongs to the family of paramyxoviruses. It causes swollen glands in the neck and can be caught at any age. It's now less common because of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination.

About mumps

Before the MMR vaccination was introduced in 1988, mumps used to be very common, with around eight out of 10 adults having previously had the infection at some point in their lives. When children started being immunised against mumps, the number of people with the infection fell quickly.

Now that MMR is a routine childhood vaccination, mumps has become much less common. However, you can still catch mumps at any age if you haven't been vaccinated. There have been outbreaks of mumps infection in the past few years. Most of the people affected were born between 1982 and 1986, and had never been vaccinated against mumps or been exposed to the virus naturally.

Mumps is most common in winter and spring, although you can become infected at any time of the year.

Nearly all people who have had mumps are immune for life and therefore won't catch it again.

Symptoms of mumps

Your symptoms will usually start two to three weeks after you have come into contact with someone who has the virus. These weeks are called the incubation period. About one in three children with mumps don't get any symptoms.

Other people can catch mumps from you between 12 and 25 days after you have been infected by the virus. If your child has mumps, he or she should stay away from school or nursery for five days after their symptoms start.

At first, the symptoms of mumps are similar to those of flu, and can include:

• fever (high temperature)
• headache
• loss of appetite
• tiredness
• muscle aches

A day or two later, you may develop earache and it may hurt to chew and swallow. Two out of three people develop swellings on one or both side of the neck just below the ears. These are swollen salivary (parotid) glands.

Adults may also develop other symptoms such as swollen testicles in men and swollen ovaries in women. Swollen ovaries can cause pain or discomfort in your abdomen (tummy).

These symptoms aren't always caused by mumps but if you have them, see your doctor.

Complications of mumps

Mumps usually gets better on its own without causing any other problems. However, a small number of people who have mumps go on to develop more serious health problems. Some of the main ones are listed below.

• Inflamed testicles and epididymis (epididymo-orchitis). This can lead to sperm problems in a small number of men, for example producing fewer or less active sperm. However, it's rare for mumps to affect your fertility.
• Inflamed ovaries (oophoritis). This can develop in about one in 20 women who have mumps. However, it is unlikely to affect your fertility.
• Inflammation of the covering of the brain (viral meningitis). This develops in about one in ten people who have mumps. Meningitis can lead to encephalitis which is inflammation of the brain. This is a more serious health problem and can be life threatening.
• Loss of hearing – but this is usually temporary.
• Inflamed pancreas (pancreatitis). Your pancreas is an organ in your abdomen that produces digestive juices, which break down the food you eat. About one in 20 people with mumps develop pancreatitis, but it's usually mild.

If you, or your child, develop any of the following symptoms, you should see your GP.

• Swollen, painful testicles with a fever, chills, headache and being sick.
• Pain in your abdomen.
• Stiffness in your neck.
• Being sick.

You should also see your GP if you have symptoms of mumps and are in the early part of your pregnancy. If you're in the first three months of pregnancy and catch mumps, there is an increased risk of having a miscarriage.

Causes of mumps

You can catch mumps from close personal contact with someone who is infected with the virus. The mumps virus is spread, as with cold or flu viruses, from contaminated surfaces or by the droplets released when someone coughs or sneezes. It's very contagious and can spread quickly among people who live or work together.

Diagnosis of mumps

Your GP will ask you about your symptoms and examine you. He or she may also ask you about your medical history. Your GP will ask you whether you have been in contact with anyone who has mumps.

Your GP will look for signs of swelling in one or both of your salivary glands. This usually happens a day or two after your other symptoms have started.

Mumps is a notifiable disease. This means that if your GP thinks you have mumps, by law he or she has to report it. Your GP will contact your local Health Protection Unit, and they will arrange a testing kit to confirm that you have mumps. This usually means taking a swab from your mouth and having it tested for the virus.

Treatment of mumps

There is no specific treatment for mumps. Mumps usually gets better on its own about a week after your symptoms start. However, you can treat the symptoms of mumps, which will make you feel more comfortable.

If you need pain relief, you can take over-the-counter painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. Always read the patient information that comes with your medicine and if you have any questions, ask your pharmacist for advice.

You should rest and drink enough fluids to prevent you from becoming dehydrated – usually six to eight glasses of water a day. Don't drink fruit juice made from citrus fruits, such as oranges or grapefruits, as this can make the pain in your salivary glands worse.

You may find that putting a cold compresses on your swollen salivary glands also helps.

If your symptoms get worse, or haven't improved after a week, see your GP.

Prevention of mumps

Mumps can be prevented by having a vaccination. The mumps vaccine is part of the MMR vaccination given as part of the national immunisation programme in the UK. Children are given the MMR vaccine at 12 to 15 months and again at four years old. After two doses of the vaccine, around nine out of 10 children will be immune to mumps and therefore won't catch it.

There is no upper age when the MMR vaccine can be given, so adults and older children can also have the vaccine. The two vaccinations must be at least one month apart. If you have been in contact with someone who has mumps, being vaccinated afterwards won't prevent you from catching it.

For answers to frequently asked questions on this topic, see Common questions.

For sources and links to further information, see Resources.