The major targets include glandular and nervous tissue. The virus enters via the pharynx or conjunctiva, there is local multiplication followed by viremia. A secondary viremia disseminates the virus to salivary glands, testes, ovaries, pancreas and the brain. The most characteristic response is painful enlargement of the parotid glands. Severe cases may progress to include epididymoorchitis in prepubescent males, which can cause atrophy of the testes, but rarely sterility.
Mumps can also produce a transient high frequency deafness.
Measles is also a systemic infection spread by viremia. Acute disease affects the lymphatic and respiratory systems and occasionally the brain. Measles virus generally enters via the oropharynx. Local multiplication precedes the viremia and spread to the reticuloendothelial system. Extensive multiplication produces a secondary viremia 5-7 days later with spread to the mucosa of the respiratory, urogenital or gastrointestinal tracts or the central nervous system.