Paediatrics

Mumps

Mumps is an acute mumps-virus infection classically causing painful parotid swelling; it remains vaccine-preventable and notifiable in England, and complications such as meningitis, orchitis, pancreatitis or hearing loss need active assessment.

Definition

Mumps is an acute infection caused by mumps virus, a paramyxovirus, typically producing painful swelling of the parotid or other salivary glands. It can involve the nervous system, pancreas, gonads and inner ear and is a notifiable infection in England.

First principles

Parotitis is typical but not required

Mumps often begins with fever, headache, malaise and anorexia followed by painful swelling around one or both parotid glands. Unilateral swelling, no visible swelling or an atypical presentation can occur, especially in vaccinated people, so vaccination history does not exclude the diagnosis.

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