Mumps: symptoms, transmission and treatment

Mumps is an infectious disease that can be transmitted from person to person by air and that settles in the salivary glands, causing swelling and pain in the face. Although this disease is more common in children and adolescents, it can also occur in adults, even if they have already been vaccinated against mumps.

Mumps, also called mumps or infectious parotitis, is caused by the family virus Paramyxoviridaeand symptoms can take between 14 and 25 days to appear, with swelling between the ear and chin being more common due to inflammation of the parotid glands, which are saliva-producing glands.

The diagnosis of mumps must be made by a pediatrician or general practitioner based on the symptoms presented and the results of laboratory tests, and treatment is carried out with the aim of relieving symptoms.

Mumps symptoms

The main symptoms of mumps are:

• Swelling in the face, between the ear and chin;
• Pain in the head and face;
• Feeling of dry mouth;
• Pain when swallowing;
• Pain when opening the mouth;
• Loss of appetite;
• Fever.

Mumps symptoms can take between 14 and 25 days after contact with the virus to appear. Furthermore, the swelling of mumps has a gelatinous consistency when palpated and reaches its maximum point between the 3rd and 7th day, gradually decreasing after this period.

In some men, symptoms of pain, discomfort, swelling and a sensation of heat may also appear in the testicles, which may be an indication that the disease has descended to the testicles and is causing inflammation.

Symptom Test

If you think you may have mumps, list your symptoms:

The symptom test is only a guidance tool and does not serve as a diagnosis or replace consultation with a general practitioner, pediatrician or infectious disease specialist.

How transmission happens

Mumps can be transmitted through droplets of saliva that remain suspended in the air when the infected person talks, coughs or sneezes. The virus can be transmitted about 5 days before symptoms begin to appear.

The period of greatest risk of mumps transmission is 2 days before and 2 days after the onset of symptoms, but small particles of the virus have already been found in saliva samples 9 days after the onset of symptoms and therefore, for safety reasons , the person is only considered non-transmissible 9 days after the onset of symptoms.

Mumps during pregnancy is serious as it can lead to a miscarriage. Therefore, it is important that pregnant women are up to date with their vaccination and avoid contact with possible objects and people that may have the virus.

Can vaccinated people also be infected?

People who have had mumps at some point in their lives are generally immune against the disease and, therefore, are not at risk of becoming infected again. However, this effect does not occur with the vaccine used against mumps, which is part of the basic childhood vaccination schedule, as it only provides 96% protection, which does not guarantee protection in all cases.

Furthermore, the effect of the vaccine lasts for around 20 years, which can lead to the emergence of the disease in adults who are in direct contact with infected children after this period.

How the treatment is carried out

Mumps treatment is done to alleviate the symptoms of the disease and, therefore, may include the use of painkillers, such as Paracetamol, to reduce discomfort. In addition, rest, water intake and soft food are also important to improve symptoms until the body is able to eliminate the mumps virus. See more details on mumps treatment.

How to avoid the disease

The main way to avoid mumps is through vaccination, the first dose of which is recommended at 12 months of age and the second dose between 15 and 24 months. The mumps vaccine is triple viral, which provides protection against mumps, measles and rubella. See more about the mumps vaccine.

It is also important to disinfect objects contaminated with secretions from the throat, mouth and nose, in addition to avoiding contact with other people if you are infected.