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Who gets mumps?

Anyone can get mumps, but it is most often a childhood disease, with children five to nine years of age the most commonly infected. About 90% of people reach puberty already immune to mumps.

FAQ Frequently asked questions

What is mumps?

Mumps is an infectious viral disease that causes fevers and swollen salivary glands, mostly in children.

What are the symptoms of mumps?

The most distinctive sign of mumps is swelling and tenderness of the salivary glands. The salivary glands that are most commonly affected are the two parotid glands, located in the sides of the face. This appears in about half of all mumps infections. One or …

What causes mumps?

Mumps is caused by the mumps virus, which is easily spread by coughing or touching contaminated surfaces.

How is mumps diagnosed?

Your doctor will diagnose mumps by noting the symptoms, especially the enlarged salivary glands. That is usually enough, but blood tests (checking for the presence of the virus and for antibodies against it) can confirm the diagnosis if necessary.

How is mumps treated?

There's no special treatment for mumps. Treatment usually consists of bed rest, plenty of fluids, and easing the pain in the parotids.

Will mumps clear on its own?

Mumps normally clears on its own after a few days.

Is mumps contagious?

Mumps is a contagious disease, spread by sneezes and coughs.

Can mumps be prevented?

Mumps can be prevented by vaccination.

Is mumps serious?

Mumps is usually not a serious condition. In rare cases, complications can be annoying and in ever rarer cases, serious or even life-threatening.

What happens if mumps occurs during pregnancy?

A woman who catches mumps during her first trimester of pregnancy may have an increased risk of miscarriage.

Related topics

Measles

Rubella

Mononucleosis

Yellow fever

Ulcerative colitis

The flu (influenza)

About this article

Author: Dr Idan Ben-Barak PhD, MSc, BSc (Med)
First answered: 19 Sep 2014
Last reviewed: 14 May 2019
Rating: 4.0 out of 5
Votes: 948 (Click smiley face below to rate)
Category: Measles

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