Which salivary gland is affected by mumps

More commonly, they swell and become painful periodically. You are most likely to pass the mumps virus to another person from the time you come into contact with the virus to when your parotid glands swell. Most people who contract mumps show symptoms of the virus. However, some people have no or very few symptoms.

These include:. You can usually return to work or school about one week after a doctor diagnoses your mumps, if you feel up to it. Mumps usually runs its course in a couple of weeks. Ten days into your illness, you should be feeling better.

Having the virus once protects you against becoming infected again. Complications from mumps are rare, but can be serious if left untreated. Mumps mostly affects the parotid glands. However, it can also cause inflammation in other areas of the body, including the brain and reproductive organs. Orchitis is inflammation of the testicles that may be due to mumps. You can manage orchitis pain by placing cold packs on the testicles several times per day.

Your doctor may recommend prescription-strength painkillers if necessary. In rare cases, orchitis can cause sterility.

Females infected with mumps may experience swelling of the ovaries. However, if a woman contracts mumps during pregnancy, she has a higher-than-normal risk of experiencing a miscarriage. Mumps may lead to meningitis or encephalitis , two potentially fatal conditions if left untreated. One study from reported an association between mumps infection during the first trimester of pregnancy and an increase in the rate of spontaneous abortion or intrauterine fetal death 1 , but this result has not been observed in other studies 2.

One study of low birth weight in relation to mumps during pregnancy found no significant association 1. While there are case reports of congenital malformations in infants born to mothers who had mumps during pregnancy, the only prospective, controlled study found rates of malformations were similar between mothers who had mumps and those who did not have mumps during pregnancy 3. Learn more about preventing infections during pregnancy.

People who previously had one or two doses of MMR vaccine can still get mumps and transmit the disease. During mumps outbreaks in highly vaccinated communities, the proportion of cases that occur among people who have been vaccinated may be high. This does not mean that the vaccine is ineffective. The effectiveness of the vaccine is assessed by comparing the attack rate in people who are vaccinated with the attack rate in those who have not been vaccinated.

In outbreaks of highly vaccinated populations, people who have not been vaccinated against mumps usually have a much greater mumps attack rate than those who have been fully vaccinated. Disease symptoms are generally milder and complications are less frequent in vaccinated people. Vaccination is the best way to prevent mumps and mumps complications. In October , the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices ACIP recommended that people identified by public health authorities as being part of a group at increased risk for acquiring mumps because of a mumps outbreak should receive a third dose of MMR vaccine.

The purpose of the recommendation is to improve protection of people in outbreak settings against mumps disease and mumps-related complications. See Mumps Vaccination for vaccination recommendations.

RT-PCR and viral culture are used to confirm mumps infection. IgM serology can also be used to aid in diagnosing mumps infection. A negative test result does not rule out mumps infection. Mumps is a nationally notifiable disease, and all cases should be reported to the state or local health department.

Mumps was common in the United States until mumps vaccination became routine. Since then, the number of cases has dropped dramatically. However, mumps outbreaks still occur in the United States, and the number of cases has crept up in recent years. These outbreaks generally affect people who aren't vaccinated, and occur in close-contact settings such as schools or college campuses. Complications of mumps, such as hearing loss, are potentially serious but rare.

There's no specific treatment for mumps. Mumps is characterized by swollen, painful salivary glands in the face, causing the cheeks to puff out. Some people infected with the mumps virus have either no signs or symptoms or very mild ones. When signs and symptoms do develop, they usually appear about two to three weeks after exposure to the virus. The primary sign of mumps is swollen salivary glands that cause the cheeks to puff out.

Other signs and symptoms may include:. See your doctor if you or your child has signs and symptoms of mumps. Mumps is highly contagious for about nine days after symptoms appear. Tell your doctor's office before you go in that you suspect mumps so arrangements can be made to avoid spreading the virus to others in the waiting room.

Mumps has become uncommon, so it's possible that another condition is causing your signs and symptoms. Swollen salivary glands and a fever could indicate:. Mumps is caused by a virus that spreads easily from person to person through infected saliva. Mumps is a childhood illness caused by a virus. Symptoms may include a fever and an aching, swollen jaw, lasting 7 to 10 days.

Vaccination can prevent…. What to know about mumps. Symptoms Treatment Causes Complications Tests and diagnosis Prevention Mumps is an extremely contagious viral infection of the salivary glands that most commonly affects children. Symptoms of mumps. Share on Pinterest Mumps most commonly affects the salivary glands.

Treatment for mumps. Share on Pinterest Drinking plenty of fluids may help to relieve the symptoms of mumps. Causes of mumps. Complications of mumps. Tests and diagnosis of mumps. Prevention of mumps.