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URL of this page: https://medlineplus.gov/mumps.html

Mumps

Summary

Mumps is an illness caused by the mumps virus. It starts with:

  • Fever
  • Headache
  • Muscle aches
  • Tiredness
  • Loss of appetite

After that, the salivary glands under the ears or jaw become swollen and tender. The swelling can be on one or both sides of the face. Symptoms last 7 to 10 days. Serious complications are rare.

You can catch mumps by being with another person who has it. There is no treatment for mumps, but the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine can prevent it.

Before the routine vaccination program in the United States, mumps was a common illness in infants, children and young adults. Now it is a rare disease in the U.S.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Start Here

  • About Mumps (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
  • Mumps (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
  • Mumps (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) Also in Spanish

Symptoms

Diagnosis and Tests

Prevention and Risk Factors

Related Issues

Statistics and Research

Clinical Trials

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

Find an Expert

Men

  • Orchitis (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)

Women

Patient Handouts

The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.