What is mumps?

Mumps is a contagious viral illness. It can cause fever, swelling of the salivary glands (parotitis) and inflammation in other parts of the body.

Mumps is now rare in Australia thanks to the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. The MMR vaccine is part of the National Immunisation Program Schedule.

Anyone can catch mumps if they are not immune — have not been vaccinated or have not previously had mumps.

This page focuses on advice for adults and children from 5 years of age. The Pregnancy, Birth and Baby website has information about:

• mumps during pregnancy
• mumps in babies and younger children

What symptoms are related to mumps?

Symptoms of mumps develop about 2 to 3 weeks after having contact with an infected person.

Mumps often starts as a flu-like illness, with symptoms such as:

• fever
• headache
• tiredness
• body aches
• poor appetite

The classic sign of mumps is swelling on one or both sides of your face. This is caused by swollen salivary glands (parotitis). This happens in about 7 out of 10 people with mumps.

Adult males can also get orchitis (inflammation of the testicles). This happens for up to 3 in 10 males.

Around 1 in 3 people with mumps has no symptoms.

What causes mumps?

Mumps is caused by an RNA paramyxovirus.

Mumps is a contagious disease. This means that it spreads from one person to another easily.

How is mumps spread?

Mumps is spread by breathing in air containing the mumps virus. This can happen when an infected person coughs or sneezes near you. You can also catch mumps by direct contact with an infected person's saliva.

You are contagious with mumps even before the facial swelling starts. You will continue to be contagious until 9 days after the start of any facial swelling.

Ask your doctor if you are not sure when you or your child can safely return to work or school.

How is mumps diagnosed?

Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and examine you. They may also ask you:

• if you have had contact with anyone who has mumps
• about your vaccination history

If your doctor thinks that you have mumps, they may refer you for a:

• blood test
• urine test
• throat swab

These tests can confirm the diagnosis.

Mumps is a notifiable condition. This means that your doctor needs to tell local health authorities that you have mumps. They will take steps to prevent or control an outbreak. This may involve a process called contact tracing. Contact tracers will speak with you to identify anyone who has had close contact with you recently.

It is important for local health authorities to know about cases of mumps so they can control any outbreaks.

When should I see my doctor?

See your doctor if you or your child has symptoms of mumps.

Do not go to the clinic since you don't want to infect people in the waiting room. Rather, call your doctor and they will let you know the safest way to see them. Ask your doctor about the possibility of a telehealth appointment.

If you have mumps and develop new symptoms, or your symptoms get worse, speak to your doctor.

How is mumps treated?

There is no specific treatment for mumps. Instead, treatment focuses on symptom relief.

Self-care at home

You can try these ways to relieve your symptoms at home:

• get plenty of rest
• take over-the-counter pain-relief medicines, like paracetamol or ibuprofen, to relieve pain
• drink lots of fluids
• use a warm or cool compress to relieve facial pain and swelling
• eat foods that don't need a lot of chewing, like soup or scrambled eggs

Most people with mumps recover on their own without medical treatment. If your symptoms don't improve after 7 days, or suddenly get worse, see your doctor for advice.

If you have mumps, it is important to stay home from childcare, school or work.

Medicines for mumps

Antibiotics are not used to treat mumps because mumps is caused by a virus.

Can mumps be prevented?

Vaccination is the best way to prevent mumps.

You will receive the mumps vaccine as a combination vaccine for:

• measles, mumps and rubella (MMR)
• measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMR-V)

Your doctor can advise which vaccine is right for you.

About the mumps vaccine

Who should be vaccinated?

In Australia, people born before 1966 are generally considered immune because it's likely that you had mumps in childhood.

You are immune to mumps if you have either:

• been sick with mumps in the past; or
• received a course of mumps vaccinations

If you were born after 1965 and have not had the mumps vaccine, speak to your doctor about getting vaccinated.

The mumps vaccine is not recommended during pregnancy or for people who have a weakened immune system.

Vaccination for mumps is only effective if you get it before you have contact with an infected person.

Is the MMR vaccination linked to autism?

MMR and MMR-V vaccinations do not cause autism or autism spectrum disorder. It also does not cause inflammatory bowel disease.

Medical and scientific experts have discredited the research that suggested a link between the MMR and MMR-V vaccines and autism.

Complications of mumps

Sometimes, mumps causes complications that can be serious and have lasting effects on your health. Mumps can lead to:

• encephalitis or meningitis — inflammation of the brain or its linings — that can be life-threatening and cause long-term hearing loss
• orchitis (inflammation of the testicles), which can lead to infertility

Catching mumps during early pregnancy can increase the chance of a miscarriage.

In rare cases, mumps can also cause inflammation in other parts of the body, including the:

• heart (myocarditis)
• pancreas (pancreatitis)
• ovaries (oophoritis)

Resources and support

For more information about immunisation, visit the Australian Government's Immunisation website.

The Sharing Knowledge About Immunisation website has videos and other tools to help you make decisions about vaccination.

You can also call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.