Some Basics...

• Mumps is a disease that is caused by a virus.
• It is spread through saliva and droplets in the air from sneezing and coughing. 
• Mumps is most often a childhood disease. It is most often seen in children who have not received the MMR vaccine. However, a person can get mumps at any age.
• Complications of mumps are more serious in adults than children.
• The MMR vaccine helps to protect people from getting mumps. People who have not had the vaccine should talk to their doctor about getting it.

Symptoms

• Most people with mumps have a fever, headache, muscle aches, and decreased appetite. These most often last 7-10 days.
• About 30-40% of people have swelling of the parotid glands. This is called parotitis. These glands are located on each side of the jaw. They are found just in front of the ear. Parotid gland swelling can happen on one or both sides of the face.
• 20% of people with mumps have no symptoms at all.

Complications

• Oopheritis: This is inflammation of the ovary. This happens to about 5% of women and may cause stomach pain.
• Orchitis: This is inflammation of the testicle. This happens to about 50% of men. The main symptoms are pain and swelling of the testicle. This most often appears about one week after parotitis starts. Sometimes it can happen in both testes. Rarely, orchitis can cause infertility.
• Pancreatitis: This is inflammation of the pancreas.
• Viral meningitis

Can Mumps Be Spread to Others?

• Mumps can be spread to others. Mumps is spread by droplets of saliva and mucus. This can happen when a person with mumps coughs, sneezes, or talks near others. Mumps can also be spread by kissing or sharing eating utensils.
• The chance of getting mumps depends on how long the contact lasted. It also depends on how close the contact was. If the contact was brief, the chance of getting mumps is about 10%. People who live with an infected person have up to a 90% chance of getting mumps.
• A person with mumps can spread it before and after their symptoms start. Mumps can be spread from 3 days before to 9 days after the start of symptoms.

1. What You Should Know:
   • Mumps is a disease that is caused by a virus.
   • Mumps is most often a childhood disease. It is most often seen in 5-9 year olds who have not received the MMR vaccine. However, you can get mumps at any age.
   • There is no specific treatment for mumps. You can treat mumps symptoms at home.
   • Here is some care advice that should help.
2. Symptoms:
   • Most people with mumps have a fever, headache, muscle aches, and decreased appetite. These most often last 7-10 days.
   • About 30-40% of people have swelling of the parotid glands. This is called parotitis. These glands are located on each side of your jaw. They are found just in front of your ear. Parotid gland swelling can happen on one or both sides of the face.
   • About 20% of people with mumps have no symptoms at all.
3. Treatment:
   • There is no specific treatment for mumps.
   • Acetaminophen (Tylenol) can help with fever, muscle ache, and other pains.
   • Since mumps is a virus, antibiotics do not help.
4. Prevention:
   • Mumps can be prevented with the MMR vaccine.
5. How It Is Spread:
   • Mumps can be spread to others. Mumps is spread by droplets of saliva and mucus. This can happen when a person with mumps coughs, sneezes, or talks near others. Mumps can also be spread by kissing or sharing eating utensils.
   • The chance of getting mumps depends on how close the contact was. It also depends on how long the contact lasted. If the contact was brief, the chance of getting mumps is around 10%. People who live with an infected person have up to a 90% chance of getting mumps.
   • A person with mumps can spread it before and after their symptoms start. Mumps can be spread from 3 days before to 9 days after the start of symptoms.
6. Internet Resources:
   • Australia: The state of Victoria has mumps information at http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Mumps
   • Canada: The Public Health Agency of Canada has mumps information available at http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/im/iyc-vve/faq-dis-mal/mumps-oreillons-eng.php
   • United States: MedlinePlus has information and links on mumps at: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/mumps.html
   • United States: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a mumps page at http://www.cdc.gov/mumps
7. Call Your Doctor If:
   • You think you have mumps (you get a fever, headache, or muscle aches within 25 days of being exposed to mumps)
   • You are a man and get pain in one or both testicles
   • You get swelling on one or both sides of your jaw
   • You have other questions or concerns

1. What Should I Do If I Am Exposed to Mumps?
   • You do not always get mumps after being exposed to it. Most people born before 1957 had mumps as children and are now immune. If you are immune to mumps, you cannot get it again. If you have had 2 doses of the MMR vaccine, you should be immune.
   • If you never received the MMR vaccine, you should get 2 doses of it. You should get the second dose 1 month after the first dose.
   • If you have only received one dose of the MMR vaccine, you should get the second dose.
2. Internet Resources:
   • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has answers to outbreak-related questions at: http://www.cdc.gov
3. Call Your Doctor If:
   • You have other questions or concerns

1. What You Should Know:
   • It is called the MMR vaccine because it is a 3-in-1 vaccine. It prevents Measles, Mumps, and Rubella.
   • Measles, mumps, and rubella are childhood disease. They can be serious.
   • Here is some care advice that should help.
2. Who Should Get the MMR Vaccine? The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends MMR vaccination for these groups of people:
   • All children, starting 12-15 months old
   • Adults born after 1956 who do not have documentation that they received the MMR vaccine
   • Healthcare workers who neither have documentation of nor a blood test showing immunity
3. Who Should Get Two Doses of the MMR Vaccine? 2-5% of people who had a single dose of the MMR vaccine are not immune to mumps. The ACIP recommends a second dose for any adult born after 1956 in any of these groups:
   • College and graduate students
   • People with international travel plans
   • Healthcare workers
4. Who Should Not Get an MMR Vaccine?
   • Pregnant women
   • Women who expect to get pregnant in the next 3 months
   • You can read this Vaccine Information Statement at: http://www.immunize.org/vis/mmr03.pdf. This has a description of the vaccine and complete list of contraindications.
5. What Are Common Side Effects of the MMR Vaccine?
   • Pain at injection site. This happens to 10% of people.
   • Fever and rash within 7-12 days after the injection. This happens to 5% of people. The fever is most often between 101°F and 103°F (38.3°C and 39.5°C). It may last 2-3 days. The mild pink rash is mainly on the middle of your body. It may last 2-3 days. No treatment is needed. You cannot spread mumps to others by getting the vaccine.
   • Mild pain and stiffness in the joints. This happens to 25% of women. This only lasts for a short time.
   • Lymph node swelling. This only lasts for a short time.
6. Internet Resources:
   • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has information on the mumps vaccine at http://www.cdc.gov/
   • A Vaccine Information Statement (VIS) for the MMR vaccine is found athttp://www.immunize.org/vis/mmr03.pdf
7. Call Your Doctor If:
   • Fever after a vaccine lasts more than 3 days
   • Pain at the injection site lasts more than 3 days
   • You have other questions or concerns