Mumps is a viral infection, mainly of childhood, which causes swelling of the parotid (salivary glands). These glands are located at the sides of the face, below and just in front of the ears. Along with swelling, there may also be fever, headache, and a sore throat. Mumps also sometimes causes viral meningitis, inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) or, in adolescent boys and adult men, inflammation of the testes (epididymo-orchitis).
The virus is spread in airborne droplets, and symptoms typically take 14 to 25 days to appear after infection. An infected person is contagious from about 2 days before the swelling appears until about 5 days after it has appeared.
Mumps usually clears up on its own in a week or two, although acetaminophen may help to relieve symptoms.
A vaccine against mumps is available and is usually given combined with vaccines for measles and rubella in the MMR vaccine