What are the other Names for this Condition? (Also known as/Synonyms)

• Epidemic Parotitis (caused by Mumps)
• Infectious Parotitis (caused by Mumps)

What is Mumps? (Definition/Background Information)

• Mumps is a viral disease, which causes swelling of the salivary (parotid) glands that is situated behind each cheek (between the ear and jaw)
• When the Mumps virus infects the salivary glands, they swell, causing a lot of pain. This state is known as having Mumps
• The condition usually affects children, between 2-12 years of age. In rare cases, the disease can affect adults as well. Apart from children who are at risk, the risk factors for contracting the Mumps virus include vaccinated children mingling with unvaccinated kids, being immunocompromised, and traveling to Mumps-infected regions
• Other signs and symptoms of Mumps include facial pain, sore throat, fever, and weakness. The condition is generally diagnosed through a physical examination. In some cases, tests may be performed to confirm presence of the virus
• In rare cases, Mumps could lead to complications such as swelling of the testicles, swollen ovaries, pancreatitis, and meningitis; pregnant women might miscarry too. In very rare instances, encephalitis may ensue following a Mumps infection
• Treatment options include rest, plenty of fluid intake, and painkillers, if necessary. If no complications arise, the affected individuals can recover from Mumps within 2 weeks
• The best way to prevent Mumps is to get vaccinated with the combination Mumps-Measles-Rubella (MMR) vaccine. Also, being infected by Mumps once, offers immunity to the disease

Who gets Mumps? (Age and Sex Distribution)

• Mumps is usually common among children in the age group of 2-12 years. It easily affects children who have not taken preventive vaccinations
• Adults (both men and women) may also be affected by this disease, though such incidents are rarely observed
• All racial and ethnic groups are at risk; Mumps is a common condition that is seen worldwide

What are the Risk Factors for Mumps? (Predisposing Factors)

The following are some known risk factors for Mumps:

• Age: Young children (who are not vaccinated) have the highest risk of contracting this disease
• Exposure to the virus, either through an individual with Mumps, or by coming in contact with an unvaccinated individual (carrying the Mumps virus)
• Individuals with weak immune systems have a greater chance of being infected
• Season: It is common to have Mumps outbreak during winter or spring
• Traveling to various parts of the world (especially where Mumps is prevalent) can be a risk factor for contracting the infection

It is important to note that having a risk factor does not mean that one will get the condition. A risk factor increases one's chances of getting a condition compared to an individual without the risk factors. Some risk factors are more important than others.

Also, not having a risk factor does not mean that an individual will not get the condition. It is always important to discuss the effect of risk factors with your healthcare provider.

What are the Causes of Mumps? (Etiology)

• Mumps is an infectious disease that is caused by the Mumps virus, a member of a family of viruses known as paramyxovirus
• When an infected individual with Mumps sneezes, coughs, or even talks, the virus can spread through their respiratory droplets in air
• Mumps can also spread when articles or items, contaminated with the virus-infected saliva are used, shared, or touched by others

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Mumps? 

The Mumps virus mainly infects the face and head of an individual. The following are some of the signs and symptoms associated with the disease:

• Enlarged and puffy cheeks; swollen parotid (salivary) glands, jaws, and temples
• Constant face pain, headache
• Sore throat
• Fever (up to 103° F)
• Loss of appetite
• Weakness of the body
• Some symptoms may be present around the male genitalia, which might include pain and lumpy feeling in the testis, swollen scrotum, etc.

How is Mumps Diagnosed?

The clinical signs and symptoms are usually sufficient for a diagnosis of Mumps and no further test are usually necessary, in a majority of cases. The diagnosis may involve:

• Complete physical examination and medical history
• Blood tests to detect antibodies against Mumps
• Viral culture of buccal and oral swabs
• Molecular testing methods such as PCR

It is important to note that the blood tests to detect the antibody levels against the Mumps virus does not help in determining active infection from prior vaccination, and hence, viral cultures are considered to be gold-standard.

Many clinical conditions may have similar signs and symptoms. Your healthcare provider may perform additional tests to rule out other clinical conditions to arrive at a definitive diagnosis.

What are the possible Complications of Mumps?

Complications of Mumps are generally rare, but they may include:

• Orchitis - a condition of painfully enlarged testicles in males; sometimes, the pain may be mild
• Oophoritis - inflammation of the ovaries in females, with lower abdominal pain
• Pancreatitis - inflamed pancreas, which may present as sudden abdominal pain
• Viral meningitis – viral infection of the outer membranes of the brain and spinal cord
• Miscarriage in women: Women, infected with Mumps during their early stages of pregnancy have a high risk of miscarriage

The following complications are even rarer:

• Encephalitis – a serious infection of the brain accompanied by inflammation
• Permanent hearing loss

A fever of over 101° F should be brought to the immediate attention of the healthcare provider, as this may affect the brain and its membranes, leading to complications.

How is Mumps Treated?

Mumps is a self-limiting condition with a peak stage and a decline. There are no specific treatment measures advised, but the following may help with the signs and symptoms:

• Pain-relieving medicines, in case of pain
• Warm or cold packs may be applied on the swollen cheeks to reduce swelling
• Intake of plenty of fluids
• A soft diet is advised, avoiding spicy foods
• Rest

How can Mumps be Prevented?

Immunization is the best known preventive measure for Mumps. The MMR vaccine (a combination vaccine against Measles-Mumps-Rubella) provides 80% immunity against Mumps. It is administered in two dosage schedules:

• The first dosage for children is given between the 12th and 15th month
• The second dose is administered between the ages 4-6, or between the ages 11-12
• Sometimes a special booster dose is administered during periods of epidemics

It is important to complete the second dosage for a child, after age 1, for the vaccination to be truly effective. However, there are some restrictions on who should not be administered the MMR vaccine and it is advisable to check with the healthcare provider on the following cases.

• Children who had an allergic reaction after the first dosage
• Any individual allergic to certain antibiotics
• Individuals allergic to the MMR vaccine (or any component thereof)
• Pregnant women
• Those having congenital immunodeficiency disorders, AIDS, leukemia, lymphoma, cancer, etc.
• If the individual is being currently treated with drugs or steroids, or had had a vaccination within the past 4 weeks
• If the individual has a low blood platelet count, and/or received a recent blood transfusion

What is the Prognosis of Mumps? (Outcomes/Resolutions)

• In a majority of cases, Mumps is a self-limiting disease and it takes about 2 weeks for a full recovery, if no complications arise
• Individuals, who have had an incidence of Mumps, are normally immune to the condition after being affected once

Additional and Relevant Useful Information for Mumps:

The following DoveMed website link is a useful resource for additional information:

https://www.dovemed.com/diseases-conditions/infection-center/