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Routine Care & Wellness

Mumps

Mumps is an acute viral disease that is spread from person to person by coughing or sneezing. People who have mumps may spread the infection to others, even if their illness is mild or they do not know they are infected.

Prevention

There is a vaccine to protect against mumps. The vaccine is frequently given to adults as part of a combination injection that helps protect against measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR).

Symptoms

The symptoms of mumps include a low-grade fever and a swelling or tenderness of one or more of the salivary glands in the cheeks and under the jaw.

Symptoms usually appear between 12 and 25 days after a person has been exposed to the disease. However, about one-third of infected people do not exhibit symptoms.

Vaccine Safety

The vaccine is safe and highly effective in preventing mumps. You cannot get mumps from the vaccine. Occasionally, adults who get the vaccine will develop a low-grade fever or swelling of the salivary glands in the cheeks and the neck. As with any medicine, there are very small risks those serious problems, even death, could occur after getting a vaccine. However, the risks from the disease are much greater than the risks from the vaccine.

Who should get MMR vaccine?

Adults born after 1956, especially high school and college students who have no proof of immunity.

Susceptible health-care workers, especially in hospitals, who can also be a source of infection to others.

Susceptible adolescents and adults who are traveling internationally. Facts about mumps

You cannot get mumps from the vaccine.
Approximately one-third of infected people does not exhibit symptoms of mumps.
Women may be at risk for spontaneous abortions if they get mumps while pregnant.
Mumps is contagious 7 days before and 9 days after the onset of symptoms.
Mumps can be prevented with a safe and effective vaccine.
Most serious complications of mumps are more common among adults than among children.
The incidence of mumps in adults has dropped dramatically due to the use of the second dose of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine.
Vaccination against mumps is recommended for adults born after 1956 who have neither history of the disease nor any documentation of immunity.
About 1 out of every 4 adolescent or adult men who have mumps may experience swelling of the testicles. Sterility rarely occurs.
Rare complications caused by mumps include an infection of the brain (encephalitis) and inflammation of the covering of the brain and spinal cord (meningitis). Other rare complications include arthritis, kidney and pancreas problems, deafness, and inflammation of the thyroid gland and breasts.

These facts about mumps are courtesy of the
National Coalition of Adult Immunization

to reach their organization, please click here for more information.