Mumps What You Need to Know Cedars-Sinai Skip to content Close Select your preferred language English عربى 简体中文 繁體中文 فارسي עִברִית 日本語 한국어 Русский Español Tagalog Menu Close Call 1-800-CEDARS-1 toggle search form Close Share Email Print CS-Blog Cedars-Sinai Blog Mumps What You Need to Know Jul 07, 2019 Cedars-Sinai Staff Share Tweet Post A single case of mumps can spread quickly in close spaces like dorms. Mumps used to be an achy, swollen-faced illness that most kids miserably weathered over a couple of weeks—while others dealt with complications that lasted a lifetime. "Even with good vaccination rates, a single case of mumps in close spaces like dorms is going to spread like wildfire." Thanks to vaccines, mumps is dramatically less common than it used to be. But cases have climbed in recent years and outbreaks still happen, especially in places where many people share limited space. “Even with good vaccination rates, a single case of mumps in close spaces like dorms is going to spread like wildfire,” says Dr. Santhosh M. Nadipuram, a pediatric infectious disease doctor at the Maxine Dunitz Children’s Health Center. Vaccination Mumps is the middle “M” in the MMR vaccine. Unlike measles and rubella—the other diseases in the combination shot—mumps has never really gone away. Since 1989, when doctors started giving children 2 doses of the MMR vaccine, cases have dropped more than 99%. However, since 2006, outbreaks have spiked about every 5 years. From January to June of 2019, 44 states and Washington, DC, reported 1,471 mumps cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Read: Measles: What You Need to Know The MMR vaccine is around 97% effective for measles after 2 doses. But it’s only 70-88% effective for mumps. That’s pretty good protection, but doctors wish we had better, Dr. Nadipuram says. “We’re going to see more cases, especially if vaccination rates start decreasing,” he says. Outbreaks occur in close-knit communities, among church groups, in athletics facilities, and at colleges. Mumps symptoms Early symptoms of the mumps tend to look like many common illnesses: a low fever and body aches. Eventually, you’ll have swelling and discomfort in the salivary glands at the front of the neck and the parotid glands in front of the ears and cheeks. That causes the swollen face usually associated with mumps. Other symptoms include Headache Muscle aches Fatigue Loss of appetite Difficulty chewing Pain in the testicles People who get 2 doses of the MMR vaccine are around 9 times less likely to get mumps than unvaccinated people who have the same exposure to the virus. Click To Tweet Complications Mumps doesn’t cause serious complications as often as measles or rubella do, but Dr. Nadipuram says there are 2 main complications doctors worry about: Meningitis and encephalitis: In about 1 in 6,000 cases, the mumps virus can travel to the brain or spinal cord. This could result in swelling with serious complications, including deafness or death. Swelling in other glands: Other glands in the body can also swell, especially the testicles. This can be painful and may cause infertility. "These complications are not common, but they are why we seek to prevent mumps," Dr. Nadipuram says. Preventing mumps The MMR vaccine, while not perfect, is still a strong defense against mumps. According to the CDC, people who get 2 doses of the MMR vaccine are around 9 times less likely to get mumps than unvaccinated people who have the same exposure to the virus. If someone who was vaccinated does get mumps, they are likely to have a milder case than someone who didn’t get the vaccine. Other steps to take Limit your exposure to people with mumps. Keep children and others with swelling in their cheeks away from childcare facilities and schools for 5 days from the start of swelling. Cover your mouth and nose with tissue when you sneeze or cough. Wash your hands frequently with soap and warm water. Don’t share cups or water bottles. Frequently clean and disinfect surfaces like doorknobs, tables, and counters, as well as often-touched objects like toys. Tags Prevention Expert Advice Infectious Diseases Share Tweet Post Popular Categories Health + Wellness Science + Innovation Community Blog & Magazines catalyst Blog & Magazines Home CS-Blog Blog CS Magazine Cedars-Sinai Magazine discoveries magazine Discoveries Magazine Embracing our Community Embracing Our Community Blog & Magazines catalyst Blog & Magazines Home CS-Blog Blog Embracing our Community Embracing Our Community CS Magazine Cedars-Sinai Magazine discoveries magazine Discoveries Magazine Popular Topics Cancer Women's Health Heart Expert Advice Patient Stories Brain Make an Appointment Find a Doctor Schedule a Callback Call us 24 hours a day 1-800-CEDARS-1 Support Cedars-Sinai Make a Gift Volunteer Share Email Print Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility