Mumps virus is a paramyxovirus, an infectious agent consisting of a single-stranded RNA genome.(1) It is transmitted through respiratory secretions and the infection begins in the nasopharynx and lymph nodes. Generally, after exposure, an incubation period ranging from 12 to 25 days is required before symptoms appear(2), which include headache, muscle pain, tiredness and loss of appetite(3). During this period, the virus circulates in the blood and infects various tissues of the body(4).
Swelling of the parotid glands (mumps), located on one or both sides of the face below the ears and near the chin, is the most distinctive sign of the infection and generally appears in the first two days(5). Approximately 30% of infected people show no symptoms (asymptomatic), while up to 50% begin with only mild signs of non-specific disease(6). Mumps is typically a mild disease that occurs most often in childhood; however, it can lead to complications, although most of them occur in adults.(7)
Complications include inflammation of the testes in males, inflammation of the breast tissue and ovaries in females, meningitis, encephalitis and hearing loss. Long-term consequences, such as fertility problems, are rare, however(8). Mumps rarely lead to death(9) and most patients recover completely within a few weeks(10).
A swab taken within three days of the onset of mumps is the preferred method for diagnosing a mumps infection. A blood test may also be done to confirm the presence of mumps antibodies (IgM) collected soon after the onset of symptoms, although mumps IgM may also be present if collected soon after the mumps vaccination.(11)
References (click to open)
- Communication and Education Branch, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). mumps. 13th ed. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Aug. 18, 2021.
- Communication and Education Branch, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). mumps. 13th ed. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Aug. 18, 2021.
- U. Signs & symptoms of mumps. Mar. 8, 2021.
- Harvard Health Publishing. Mumps – What is it?. Harvard Medical School Apr. 2019.
- Communication and Education Branch, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). mumps. 13th ed. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Aug. 18, 2021.
- Minnesota Department of Health. Mumps Clinical Information. June 2016.
- Johns Hopkins Medicines. Mumps in Adults. Dec 3, 2022.
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Complications. Mar. 8, 2023.