Mumps

Mumps is a contagious viral disease that affects your saliva-producing glands located near the ears.

Mumps

 

How is Mumps Spread?

Image depicting person sneezing in close distance to another

Mumps is an airborne virus and can be spread by: coughing, sneezing, and talking. It can also be spread if an infected person touches their nose or mouth, and proceeds to transfer the virus onto an object.1

 

Image depicting person with Mumps waiting for 5 days

Mumps can be spread a few days before the salivary glands begin to swell and up to 5 days after. A person diagnosed with Mumps is advised to avoid contact with others until then.1

Symptoms 

Some people who become infected with Mumps will show either no or very mild symptoms. Symptoms2 can appear two to three weeks after infection.

Image depicting face with swollen cheeks

The most common symptom is swelling of one's salivary glands, causing puffy cheeks. Other common symptoms include:

Image depicting person feeling pain in cheeks

Pain in one or both sides of the face

Image depicting person feeling pain while chewing

Pain while chewing/swallowing

Image depicting person experiencing fever

Fever

Image depicting person feeling weakness and fatigue

Weakness/Fatigue

Complications

Though rare, complications of mumps can occur, especially in adults. 

 

 Common Complications2

 

Image shows inflamed brain

Inflammation of the brain (encephalitis)

Image shows swelling of testes

Swelling of the testicles (orchitis)

Image shows person experiencing pain in upper abdomen

Pancreatitis, which causes pain in the upper abdomen 

 

Image shows swelling of ovaries and breast tissue

Swelling of the ovaries (oophoritis) and/or breast tissue (mastitis)

 

Severe Complications3

 

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Hearing Loss

 

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Heart problems such as abnormal beating and disease 

 

 

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Miscarriage

The Mumps Vaccine

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 There are two vaccines that can help to prevent mumps:

  • MMR Vaccine - protects against mumps, measles, and rubella
  • MMRV Vaccine - protects against mumps, measles, rubella, and varicella (chickenpox)

 

Mumps Vaccine Safety

The MMR vaccine contains live, attenuated (weakened) measles, mumps, and rubella viruses. It does not cause the disease in healthy people,but this vaccine should not be given to those with compromised immune systems. Side effects can occur over time, but come fewer after each dose.

 

Mumps Vaccine Effectiveness

Figure 1.4

Graph showing rates of reported mumps cases, 1968-2916

A) Overall rates of reported mumps cases declined after vaccine licensure in 1967, with notable outbreaks around 1984 to 1992 among adolescents and around 2006 among young adults 

 

Graph showing peak of mumps susceptibility

B) Peaks of mumps susceptibility among 10-19yo and 20-29yo is suggested to be due to waning immunity rather than vaccine failure-related reasons

 

Graph showing mumpssymptom probability

C) Declining reported mumps cases that causes symptoms due to vaccine protection against symptoms

 

 Herd Immunity

Image depicting how herd immunity works

Communities that have very high rates of vaccination further benefit from herd immunity, conferring increased protection to those unable to receive the vaccination.  

 

Mumps Vaccine Schedule

Figure 2.5

Mumps vaccine schedule

 

How do I know if I'm protected against mumps?

Your vaccination records are the best way of knowing if you have been vaccinated. If these records cannot be found, your doctor may perform a blood test. Speak with your doctor if you are unsure about your immune status. 

 

Types of Mumps Vaccines

 

needle

Name: MMR 

Manufacturer: Merck

Protections Conferred: Measles, Mumps, and Rubella

Age Range: 12 months or older

Vaccine Safety Insert

Image shows green vaccine needle

Name: Proquad

Manufacturer: Merck

Protections Conferred: Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Varicella

Age Range: 12 months or older 

Vaccine Safety Insert

Side Effects

In some cases, vaccines may cause side effects6. Always speak with your doctor about any concerns you may have.

 

Image depicts redness at injection site

Injection site redness or rash

 

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Fever

 

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Joint or muscle stiffness

 

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Injection site pain or soreness

Severe Allergic Reactions

In very rare cases, severe allergic reactions have been observed. Let your doctor know if you have ever experienced any allergic reactions to vaccines.

The Bottom Line

Currently, there is no cure for mumps and there is the chance that it can cause long-term health problems. Despite the large decrease in mumps cases since the U.S. implementation of a mumps vaccination program, outbreaks can still occur. The risk is even higher in settings where people have close prolonged contact such as universities and workplaces.

Sources

1. Mumps. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/mumps/about/transmission.html. Published March 15, 2019. Accessed April 22, 2020. 

2. Mumps in Adults. Mumps in Adults | Johns Hopkins Medicine. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/mumps-in…. Accessed April 22, 2020. 

3. Mumps. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mumps/symptoms-causes/sy…. Published September 26, 2018. Accessed April 22, 2020.

4. Lewnard JA, Grad YH. Vaccine waning and mumps re-emergence in the United States. Science Translational Medicine. https://stm.sciencemag.org/content/10/433/eaao5945.full. Published March 21, 2018. Accessed April 22, 2020. 

5. Vaccine for Measles (MMR Shot). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/measles/vaccination.html. Published June 13, 2019. Accessed April 22, 2020.

6. Measles, Mumps, Rubella, And Varicella Virus Vaccine Live (Subcutaneous Route) Side Effects. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/measles-mumps-rubella-and-…. Published February 1, 2020. Accessed April 22, 2020.