Mumps Disease

What is Mumps Disease?

Mumps is a contagious disease caused by a virus. Mumps is best known for causing puffy cheeks and swollen jaws. The virus spreads and affects multiple areas in the body, especially in adults

What are the symptoms of Mumps?

• Symptoms usually appear 16-18 days (some times up to 25 days) after you are infected with the virus.
• Most common symptoms include:
  --Fever
  --Headache
  --Muscle aches
  --Tiredness
  --Loss of appetite
  --Swollen and tender salivary glands under the ears on one or both sides (parotitis)
• Some patients may experience very mild or no symptoms at all.
• The most common complications from mumps affect the brain, testicles (in males), and ovaries (in females).

How does mumps spread?

• Mumps is spread from person-to-person.
• It spreads through saliva or mucus from the mouth, nose, or throat of an infected person when they:
  --Coughs, sneezes, or talks
  --Shares their used drinking and eating cups, plates, spoons, forks, or knives
  --Touches items or surfaces without washing their hands, and then someone else touches those same surfaces and then touches their mouth or nose.
  --Mumps spreads before the salivary glands begin to swell and up to five days after the swelling begins.

What is he best way to prevent getting the mumps?

• The best prevention is receiving the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine, but no vaccine is 100% effective.
• Cover your cough.
• Wash your hands.
• Stay home if ill.

Where can I find more information about mumps disease?

• As your doctor or call your local county health department.
• Email the Alabama Department of Public Health, Immunization Division, at [email protected]
• Go to cdc.gov and type 'mumps disease' in the SEARCH box.

Mumps Vaccine

Who should get mumps vaccine?

• Mump vaccine in only available in measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
• Infants and children should get 2 doses.
• Students in post-high school education should get 2 doses.
• Adults born after 1956 should bet 1 dose.
• Women of childbearing age should get 1 dose before getting pregnant.
• Healthcare staff should get 2 doses.
• International travelers should be up-to-date for MMR before traveling.

What are the vaccine side effects and risks?

• Getting MMR vaccine is much safer than getting measles, mumps or rubella disease.
• The risk of MMR vaccine causing serious harm, or death, is extremely small.
• A vaccine, like any medicine, is capable of causing side effects or a severe allergic reactions.
• Mild problems usually occur 6-14 days after vaccine include:
  --Soreness where the shot was given.
  --Fever
  --Mild rash
• Moderate problems include:
  --Seizures caused by fever
  --Temporary pain or stiffness in the joints
  --Temporary low platelet county
  --Severe problems are so very rare, it's hard to tell if MMR vaccine caused them:
  --Serious allergic reaction, deafness, long-term seizures, coma, and lowered consciousness, and permanent brain damage.

Where can I find more information about mumps disease or mumps vaccine?

• Ask your doctor or contact your local county health department.
• Email the Alabama Department of Public Health, Immunization Division, at [email protected]
• Go to cdc.gov and type 'mumps disease' in the SEARCH box.
• Read, print, and share our Mumps Flyer to learn more about pertussis disease and vaccines.

CDC Resources

• Mumps Page
• Symptoms
• Vaccine