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. There is a vaccine to protect against mumps. The vaccine is frequently given to adults as part of a combination vaccine, called the MMR vaccine, that protects against measles, mumps and rubella. There is also a vaccine that protects only against mumps. The symptoms of mumps include a low-grade fever and swelling or tenderness of one or more of the salivary glands in the cheeks and under the jaw.