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What is mumps?

What causes mumps?

Is mumps contagious

What are the symptoms of mumps?

How is  mumps treated?

How can mumps be prevented?

What is the MMR vaccine?

Who should get the MMR vaccine?

Where can I buy home test kits for contributing factors of this condition?

What is mumps? (top)

Mumps is an acute viral disease that is spread from person to person by coughing or sneezing. People who have mumps may spread the infection to others, even when they do not have any symptoms or their illness is mild.

What causes mumps (top)

The cause of mumps is the mumps virus, which spreads easily from person to person through infected saliva.

Is mumps contagious? (top)

Yes. If you're not immune, you can contract mumps by breathing in saliva droplets of an infected person who has just sneezed or coughed. You can also contract mumps from sharing utensils or cups with someone who has mumps.
Mumps is contagious from 3 days before to 4 days after the onset of symptoms.

What are the symptoms of mumps? (top)

Symptoms usually appear between 12 and 25 days after a person has been exposed to the virus. However, about one-third of infected people do not have symptoms, which can include;

• Swollen, painful salivary glands on one or both sides of the face (causes cheeks to puff out)

• Pain with chewing or swallowing

• Fever

• Weakness and fatigue

• Tenderness and swelling of a testicle (orchitis)

How is  mumps treated? (top)

Because mumps is caused by a virus, antibiotics are not an effective treatment.
Like most viral illnesses, mumps infection must simply run its course. Fortunately, most children and adults recover from an uncomplicated case of mumps within two weeks' time.

How can mumps be prevented? (top)

In general, you're considered immune to mumps if you've previously had the infection or if you've been immunized against mumps.

What is the MMR vaccine? (top)

The mumps vaccine is usually given as a combined measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) inoculation, which contains the safest and most effective form of each vaccine. Doctors recommend that children receive the MMR vaccine between 12 and 15 months of age, and again between 3 and 6 years of age — before entering school.
 

Who should get the MMR vaccine? (top)

You don't need a vaccine if you:

• Had two doses of the MMR vaccine after 12 months of age or one dose of the MMR vaccine plus a second dose of measles vaccine

• Have blood tests that prove you're immune to measles, mumps and rubella

• Are a man who was born before 1957

• Are a woman who was born before 1957 and you don't plan to have any more children, you already had the rubella vaccine or you have a positive rubella test.

You should get a vaccine if you don't fit the criteria listed above and you:

• Are a non-pregnant woman of childbearing age

• Attend college, trade school or postsecondary school

• Work in a hospital, medical facility, child-care center or school

• Plan to travel overseas or take a cruise

The vaccine is not recommended for:

• Pregnant women or women who plan to get pregnant within the next four weeks

• People who have had a life-threatening allergic reaction to gelatin or the antibiotic neomycin

Click here to buy home test kits
for contributing factors of this condition

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