Mumps

Mumps is usually spread when a person breathes in the virus that has been sneezed or coughed into the air by an infectious person. Sharing saliva with an infected person can also spread the virus.

Mumps is most infectious from around 2 days before to 5 days after the onset of swollen salivary glands. However, it can be infectious for up to 7 days before to 9 days after the onset of swollen salivary glands. It is possible to be infectious even with no symptoms.

Symptoms usually develop 12 to 25 days after being exposed to an infectious person.

Symptoms include:

• fever
• mild upper respiratory illness
• headache
• aching muscles
• generally feeling unwell
• swollen salivary glands (behind and below the jaw)
• pain near the ear, worsening when chewing.

About one-third of people with mumps have mild or no symptoms but can still infect others who are not immune.

Most children under 2 have no symptoms.

See your doctor if you think you or your child could have mumps. Your doctor will arrange tests to confirm the diagnosis.

Caution: when making your doctor’s appointment, tell the staff that you may be infectious. You will need to wait in a separate area from others, especially young children.

Complications

Mumps infection can also lead to other health conditions, such as:

• pneumonia, particularly in children under 5
• viral meningitis affects about 10 per cent of those infected, but is usually followed by good recovery
• encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) is rare but often results in serious disability
• hearing loss is rare but can be permanent
• orchitis (swollen, tender testicles) occurs in about 20 to 30 per cent of infected males who are post-puberty (infertility due to orchitis is extremely rare)
• pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) is not common.

Notifiable disease

Mumps is a notifiable disease. This means doctors, hospitals and laboratories must inform the Department of Health of your diagnosis. Notification is confidential.

Department of Health staff may talk to you or your doctor to find out how the infection occurred, to identify other people at risk of infection, to let you know about immunisation and to tell you if you need to stay away from work, school or other group gatherings.

There is no specific treatment for mumps infection. Talk to your doctor about treating the symptoms.

Do not give aspirin to children under 12 years, as it may cause Reye’s syndrome, a potentially life-threatening illness causing severe brain or liver damage.

Contact your doctor as soon as possible or ring healthdirect on 1800 022 222 if you develop any of the following symptoms and think you have mumps:

• severe headache
• testicle pain or swelling
• shortness of breathe with increasing difficulty breathing
• stomach pain.

While you have the disease

You can prevent spreading the infection by following this advice:

• stay away from work, school, group gatherings and anyone who may not be immune, until 5 days after the onset of swollen salivary glands
• tell people you were in contact with during the week before you became ill, that you have mumps
• don’t share saliva, for example by sharing eating and drinking utensils or cigarettes
• cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing
• wash your hands thoroughly with warm soapy water for at least 15 seconds after blowing your nose and handling used tissues.

Yes, the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR vaccine) is available.

You and your family can avoid mumps infection by being vaccinated, (or having immunity due to past infection). Talk to your doctor if you are unsure about your immunity.

It's also important to make sure your vaccinations are up-to-date before travelling overseas to countries where few people are immunised.