Mumps is a highly contagious disease caused by infection with a virus. Infection with the mumps virus results in tenderness and swelling of the salivary glands in the cheeks and neck. Other complications observed with mumps include deafness, arthritis, and inflammation of the testes, kidney, pancreas, or thyroid gland. Although anyone can get mumps, the greatest risk of infection occurs among unvaccinated school age children.
Mumps occurs more often during the winter and spring.
You get mumps by direct exposure to saliva from persons infected with the mumps virus. About one third of persons infected with the virus do not show any symptoms. The symptoms usually start 18 days after infection with the virus, but the onset can range from 12 to 25 days . Currently, there is no specific treatment for mumps. A person develops lifelong protection after having the disease once.