Mumps

ARTICLE SECTIONS

Definition
Symptoms
Causes
When to seek medical advice
Tests and diagnosis

Complications
Treatments and drugs
Prevention
Lifestyle and home remedies

Definition

Mumps is a viral infection that primarily affects the parotid glands — one of three pairs of salivary glands, located below and in front of your ears. If you or your child contracts mumps, it can cause swelling in one or both parotid glands.

Complications of mumps are potentially serious, but rare — and your odds of contracting mumps aren't very high. Mumps was common until the mumps vaccine was licensed in the 1960s. Since then, the number of cases has dropped dramatically.

Because outbreaks of mumps still occur in the United States and mumps is still common in many parts of the world, getting a vaccination to prevent mumps is important.

Symptoms