Mumps
A contagious viral illness best known for painful swelling of the salivary glands but capable of neurologic, testicular, ovarian, and other complications.
What causes Mumps?
Mumps is caused by mumps virus and spreads through saliva and respiratory droplets, especially during close contact, shared living, or crowded settings.
Symptoms and what to notice
Fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, poor appetite, and swelling or tenderness of one or both parotid salivary glands near the jaw. Some infections cause mild symptoms or none.
How long can it last?
Symptoms usually appear 12 to 25 days after infection, commonly around 16 to 18 days. Parotid swelling usually lasts several days, and most people recover within about two weeks.
How serious is Mumps?
Complications include inflammation of the testicles, ovaries, pancreas, brain, or tissues around the brain and spinal cord, plus hearing loss. Complications can occur without obvious salivary-gland swelling.
Treatment and management
No antiviral cures mumps. Care includes rest, fluids, pain and fever medicine appropriate for the patient, soft foods, and cold or warm packs for swollen glands. Complications require medical evaluation.
Vaccine: who and when?
M-M-R II and PRIORIX are interchangeable MMR vaccines; ProQuad is MMRV for children ages 12 months through 12 years. Routine childhood vaccination uses two doses. Public health may recommend a third MMR dose for people at increased risk during a mumps outbreak.
Cost note: Patient cost varies by product, provider, insurance, location, and eligibility. Many recommended vaccines are covered in network without cost sharing, and qualifying children may use the Vaccines for Children program.
Trusted source
Patient cost varies by insurance, provider, location, and eligibility. Coverage and public-health access differ, so listed prices are examples rather than guaranteed patient prices. This page is for general education and does not replace individualized medical advice, diagnosis, vaccination assessment, or treatment.
Mumps: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, Prevention, and Vaccine Information
Mumps is a vaccine-preventable viral infection that often causes parotitis, the recognizable swelling below the ears and along the jaw. Vaccination has made disease far less common, but outbreaks still occur in settings with prolonged close contact, even among vaccinated people, because mumps protection can decline over time. Vaccination greatly reduces complications and outbreak size.
Important: This page is for general education. It does not replace diagnosis, treatment, vaccination advice, or emergency care from a qualified healthcare professional.
Quick Facts
| Topic | Current information |
|---|---|
| Cause | Mumps is caused by mumps virus and spreads through saliva and respiratory droplets, especially during close contact, shared living, or crowded settings. |
| Main symptoms | Fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, poor appetite, and swelling or tenderness of one or both parotid salivary glands near the jaw. Some infections cause mild symptoms or none. |
| Typical course | Symptoms usually appear 12 to 25 days after infection, commonly around 16 to 18 days. Parotid swelling usually lasts several days, and most people recover within about two weeks. |
| Treatment | No antiviral cures mumps. Care includes rest, fluids, pain and fever medicine appropriate for the patient, soft foods, and cold or warm packs for swollen glands. Complications require medical evaluation. |
| Vaccine status | M-M-R II and PRIORIX are interchangeable MMR vaccines; ProQuad is MMRV for children ages 12 months through 12 years. Routine childhood vaccination uses two doses. Public health may recommend a third MMR dose for people at increased risk during a mumps outbreak. |
History and Public-Health Importance
Before routine vaccination, mumps was a common childhood infection and an important cause of viral meningitis and acquired deafness. The United States began using mumps vaccine in 1967 and later adopted the two-dose MMR schedule. Modern outbreaks often involve colleges, sports teams, close-knit communities, or other groups with intense contact, leading public health to sometimes recommend a third dose.
What Causes Mumps?
Mumps is caused by mumps virus and spreads through saliva and respiratory droplets, especially during close contact, shared living, or crowded settings.
Virus is present in saliva and respiratory secretions. It spreads through coughing, talking, kissing, sharing cups, or close activities. People are most contagious around the onset of parotitis but may spread virus before swelling is recognized. Isolation for five days after parotitis begins is commonly advised.
Symptoms and Typical Course
Fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, poor appetite, and swelling or tenderness of one or both parotid salivary glands near the jaw. Some infections cause mild symptoms or none.
Early fever, malaise, headache, and poor appetite may be followed by painful swelling of one or both parotid glands. Earache or jaw pain can worsen with chewing sour foods. Some patients have respiratory symptoms only, and many infections are asymptomatic. Most recover fully within a couple of weeks.
Complications and Who Is at Higher Risk
Complications include inflammation of the testicles, ovaries, pancreas, brain, or tissues around the brain and spinal cord, plus hearing loss. Complications can occur without obvious salivary-gland swelling.
Orchitis after puberty can cause severe testicular pain and swelling; ovarian or breast inflammation, pancreatitis, meningitis, encephalitis, and transient or permanent hearing loss are possible. Sterility after mumps orchitis is uncommon but reduced testicular size may occur. Pregnancy concerns should be discussed with a clinician.
How It Is Diagnosed
RT-PCR of a buccal swab collected promptly after parotitis onset is preferred. Blood antibody testing is less reliable in vaccinated people. Clinicians should notify public health, which can coordinate testing, outbreak definitions, isolation, and vaccination recommendations.
Treatment and Recovery
No antiviral cures mumps. Care includes rest, fluids, pain and fever medicine appropriate for the patient, soft foods, and cold or warm packs for swollen glands. Complications require medical evaluation.
Treatment is supportive. Hydration, rest, and appropriate analgesics help; aspirin should not be given to children with viral illness. Sudden testicular pain, neurologic symptoms, or dehydration needs medical care. Antibiotics do not treat mumps unless a separate bacterial infection is present.
Vaccine Information
M-M-R II and PRIORIX are interchangeable MMR vaccines; ProQuad is MMRV for children ages 12 months through 12 years. Routine childhood vaccination uses two doses. Public health may recommend a third MMR dose for people at increased risk during a mumps outbreak.
M-M-R II and PRIORIX are live attenuated MMR vaccines used for the standard two-dose schedule. ProQuad combines MMR with varicella for eligible children. MMR is not given during pregnancy or severe immunosuppression. During an outbreak, a third dose can temporarily improve protection for people whom public health identifies as being at increased risk; it is not a routine dose for everyone.
Prevention
Maintain two-dose MMR coverage, avoid sharing drinks or utensils, practice respiratory hygiene, and stay away from others for the recommended isolation period after gland swelling begins. Outbreak instructions from health departments may include targeted third-dose vaccination.
When to Seek Medical Care
Seek care for severe headache, stiff neck, confusion, seizures, persistent vomiting, severe abdominal pain, testicular pain or swelling, hearing change, or dehydration. Call ahead if mumps is suspected.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can vaccinated people get mumps?
Yes, because protection can decline, especially during intense exposure. Vaccination still lowers risk and complications.
Is a third MMR dose routine?
No. It may be recommended for people at increased risk during a recognized outbreak.
Does every case cause swollen cheeks?
No. Some infections are mild, respiratory, or asymptomatic, and complications can occur without parotitis.
Are antibiotics useful?
No. Mumps is viral; antibiotics only treat separate bacterial infections.
Key Takeaway
Mumps is usually self-limited but can cause neurologic, hearing, and reproductive-organ complications. Two-dose MMR coverage and outbreak-specific public-health action are essential.
Medical, treatment, and vaccine information was reviewed against official U.S. public-health guidance available through September 2026.