Mumps: Symptoms, Causes, Complications and Care

Mumps: Symptoms, Causes, Complications and Care

Mumps is a contagious illness caused by a virus. It often leads to painful swelling in the parotid glands, located just below your ears, which can make your cheeks appear puffy. There is no specific medicine to cure mumps disease, but most people start feeling better with rest, plenty of fluids, warm saltwater gargles and heat or ice packs to ease the pain. In this blog, we will walk you through what is mumps disease, the symptoms to watch for, how one can stay protected and more.

Mumps is a contagious illness caused by a virus. It often leads to painful swelling in the parotid glands, located just below your ears, which can make your cheeks appear puffy. There is no specific medicine to cure mumps disease, but most people start feeling better with rest, plenty of fluids, warm saltwater gargles and heat or ice packs to ease the pain. In this blog, we will walk you through what is mumps disease, the symptoms to watch for, how one can stay protected and more.

What is Mumps Disease?

Mumps is a contagious viral disease that mostly affects the salivary glands near your jaw. It usually begins with mild symptoms like headache, fever and tiredness, followed by painful swelling that makes your cheeks look puffy. While mumps was quite common in the past, the introduction of the vaccine has greatly reduced the number of cases. However, occasional cases still occur, especially in schools, colleges and other places where people are in close contact. While the illness is more common in children, adults can get it too.

Although mumps is usually mild, it can sometimes lead to serious health problems. That’s why getting the MMR (Measles-Mumps-Rubella) vaccine is the best way to keep your child protected.