Health Topics for Child Health and Development

UI Children's Hospital

UI Family Care Centers

Divisions Within the Department of Pediatrics

Iowa Registry for Congenital and Inherited Disorders

Mumps

Mumps is a viral disease that causes painful swelling of the salivary glands along the side of one or both cheeks. Mumps can be very serious, especially for teenagers and adults. Permanent hearing loss can occur. More serious cases may result in inflammation of the brain and spinal cord. Mumps may cause swelling of the male testicles and female ovaries. The disease spreads when someone with mumps sneezes, coughs, or talks, and others inhale the infected droplets.

The infected person is contagious about one day before the swelling begins and until the swelling is gone. The swelling lasts at least 9 days after the first sign of inflammation.

The symptoms usually disappear within 10 to 12 days and include:

• swelling of the glands along the side of one or both cheeks
• fever between 101 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit (38.3 to 40 degrees Centigrade)
• loss of appetite
• general tiredness
• headache and listlessness

Complications may include:

• stiff neck
• nausea and occasional vomiting
• dehydration
• abdominal pain
• skin over the swollen gland becomes reddened and
• swelling of the testicles

Treatment is focused on relieving discomfort and includes getting plenty of rest, drinking extra fluids, avoiding citrus juice as it may irritate the throat, applying a cold compress to the swollen glands, eating soft foods that are easy to swallow and chew, and taking acetaminophen or ibuprofen to control fever.

Aspirin or medicines that have aspirin in them should not be given to anyone younger than 18 years of age. Taking aspirin is a risk for a serious illness called Reye's syndrome. Non-steroidal anti- inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) should be taken with food or milk to prevent stomach upset. NSAIDs should not be taken by anyone who has been diagnosed with asthma, ulcer disease, or a bleeding disorder. Taking NSAIDs increases the risk of bleeding with trauma, dental work, surgery, or if taking blood thinners (anticoagulants). Acetaminophen should not be taken by anyone with known liver or kidney disease. Do not drink alcohol when taking more than 1 dose of acetaminophen.

Avoid anyone not immune to the illness and call your healthcare provider if symptoms worsen with complications like severe abdominal pain, extreme listlessness, or painful testes.

Immunity against mumps comes with having had the disease or with vaccination to prevent it. Children should receive the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) series of 2 shots with 1 given between 12 and 15 months, and 1 between 4 and 6 years. Children or adults who have not had mumps or been vaccinated should contact their provider.

Last Reviewed 2005

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

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