What is mumps?

Mumps is a contagious viral infection that is passed through nasal secretions, saliva, and other forms of personal contact with an infected person.

The parotid glands are primarily affected by the virus. These glands, which are also a known as the salivary glands as they are responsible for the production of saliva, are three sets of glands located on either side of the face. They are found below and slightly behind the ears. The token symptom of mumps is the inflammation of these parotid glands. Both sides of the face or only one side can become infected and swollen.

Mumps was once a common condition affecting people worldwide. However, since the introduction of the mumps vaccine in 1967, which was later combined with and now forms part of the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) and MMRV (measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella/chickenpox) vaccines administered today, the number of infections have significantly dropped. Getting vaccinated helps stop the spread of the disease. It was once thought that this vaccine resulted in children developing autism, however, this has since been proven as falsified research and parents and children alike are encouraged to get the vaccine.

The complications of mumps are rare but they can be serious as they can result in the loss of hearing, meningitis which affects the brain, amongst other severe conditions. The treatment for mumps is not specified as the condition can often naturally resolve on its own in a period of 10 days. The swelling of the parotid glands often results in a large amount of pain experienced between the jaw and ears of the patient. In some cases, patients do not experience swelling and may feel as though they have a bad flu or cold. Regardless, in all situations, it is advised that the patient consults with their doctor should they feel as though their symptoms resemble those of mumps.

In the information found in the navigation menu above, we will explore what one needs to know about mumps, the causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment in order to gain a thorough understanding of the condition and how to deal with it.