Mumps Mumps is caused by a virus. It usually causes painful swelling of the glands that lie just above the back angle of the jaw, but other glands may be affected. It can cause fever, headache and mild respiratory symptoms. After puberty, mumps can cause swollen testes or ovaries. Rarely, mumps causes deafness.
Mumps is transmitted through the air or by direct contact with the saliva of an infected person.
Symptoms of mumps generally last from one week to 10 days. The measles, mumps and rubella vaccines are live viruses that have been weakened. Whooping cough is a highly contagious bacterial respiratory infection spread by coughing or sneezing. Long coughing spells make it difficult for a child to eat, drink or even breathe. Vomiting can also follow a long coughing spell.