Where is mumps found in the body

You can protect your child against mumps by making sure they're given the combined MMR vaccine for mumps, measles and rubella. Your child should be given 1 dose when they're around 12 to 13 months and a second booster dose at 3 years and 4 months. Anyone who did not have both doses of the MMR vaccine as a child can contact a GP to arrange to be vaccinated.

There's currently no cure for mumps, but the infection should pass within 1 or 2 weeks. Mumps usually passes without causing serious damage to a person's health. Serious complications are rare. But mumps can lead to viral meningitis if the virus moves into the outer layer of the brain. Other complications include swelling of the testicles or ovaries if the affected person has gone through puberty.

Find out more about the complications of mumps. Most cases of mumps occur in younger adults who did not receive the MMR vaccine as part of their childhood vaccination schedule and did not have mumps as a child. Back to Mumps. Mumps is caused by the mumps virus, which belongs to a family of viruses known as paramyxoviruses.

These viruses are a common source of infection, particularly in children. When you get mumps, the virus moves from your respiratory tract your nose, mouth and throat into your parotid glands saliva-producing glands found either side of your face , where it begins to reproduce. Outbreaks have most commonly occurred among groups of people who have prolonged, close contact, such as sharing water bottles or cups, kissing, practicing sports together, or living in close quarters, with a person who has mumps.

Some vaccinated people may still get mumps if they are exposed to the virus. However, disease symptoms are milder in vaccinated people. Make sure you are protected against mumps with measles-mumps-rubella MMR vaccine.

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