9/8/23 Public Education Topic: Mumps
Mumps is a contagious disease that is caused by a virus. It typically starts with a few days of fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, and loss of appetite. Then most people will have swelling of their salivary glands (often referred to as parotitis when the parotid gland, located in front and below the ear, swells).
Signs & Symptoms of Mumps:
Mumps is best known for the puffy cheeks and tender, swollen jaw that it causes. This is a result of swollen salivary glands under the ears on one or both sides, often referred to as parotitis. Other symptoms that might begin a few days before parotitis include:
Fever
Headache
Muscle aches
Tiredness
Loss of appetite
Symptoms typically appear 16-18 days after infection, but this period can range from 12–25 days after infection. - Some people who get mumps have very mild symptoms (like a cold), or no symptoms at all and may not know they have the disease. - In rare cases, mumps can cause more severe complications. - Most people with mumps recover completely within two weeks.
To learn more visit: Mumps | Home | CDC
