Vaccines and Preventable Diseases:
Mumps In-Short
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Description
An acute viral illness caused by the mumps virus.
Symptoms
Fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, and loss of appetite; followed by swelling of salivary glands. The parotid salivary glands (which are located within your cheek, near your jaw line, below your ears) are most frequently affected.
Complications
Severe complications are rare. However, mumps can cause:
- inflammation of the brain and/or tissue covering the brain and spinal cord (encephalitis/meningitis)
- inflammation of the testicles (orchitis)
- inflammation of the ovaries and/or breasts (oophoritis and mastitis)
- spontaneous abortion
- deafness, usually permanent
Transmission
The mumps virus replicates in the upper respiratory tract and is spread through direct contact with respiratory secretions or saliva or through fomites.
The infectious period or time that an infected person can transmit mumps to a non-infected person is from 3 days before symptoms appear to about 9 days after the symptoms appear.
The incubation time, which is the period from when a person is exposed to virus to the onset of any symptoms, can vary from 16 to 18 days (range 12-25 days).
Diagnosis
Should be made by your physician and laboratory testing may be required.
Treatment
Currently, there is no specific treatment for mumps.
Prevention
The mumps vaccine, which is contained in the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine, can prevent this disease.
Vaccine
Mumps vaccine (contained in MMR) can prevent this disease.
Who Needs to be Vaccinated?
Does my child need this vaccine?
Children should get 2 doses of MMR vaccine:
- The first dose at 12-15 months of age
- The second dose at 4-6 years of age
These are the recommended ages. But children can get the second dose at any age, as long as it is at least 28 days after the first dose.
For additional details, consult the MMR Vaccine Information Statement 
(2 pages) (text-only)
and the Childhood Immunization Schedule.
As an adult, do I need this vaccine?
You do NOT need the measles, mumps, rubella vaccine (MMR) if:
- You had blood tests that show you are immune to measles, mumps, and rubella.
- You are a male born before 1957.
- You are a female born before 1957 who is sure she is not having more children, has already had rubella vaccine, or has had a positive rubella test.
- You already had two doses of MMR or one dose of MMR plus a second dose of measles vaccine.
- You already had one dose of MMR and are not at high risk of measles or mumps exposure.
You SHOULD get the MMR vaccine if you are not among the categories listed above, and
- You are a college student, trade school student, or other student beyond high school.
- You work in a hospital or other medical facility*.
- You travel internationally, or are a passenger on a cruise ship.
- You are a woman of childbearing age.
For additional details, consult the MMR Vaccine Information Statement (2 pages) (text-only) and the Adult Immunization Schedule.
*Healthcare Personnel Vaccination Recommendations (exit) NEW july 28
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Content last reviewed on January 16, 2007
Content Source: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases