Mumps

Last revised by Rohit Sharma on 8 May 2024

Mumps is a (usually) self-limited viral infection that often occurs in epidemics among children. Its incidence has markedly diminished in countries with childhood vaccination programs, but may still be seen in adult patients who have not received vaccinations or who have waning immunity. It may produce severe morbidity in adults including sterility

Mumps is both the lay persons' and clinicians' name for the disease. Its technical name is epidemic parotitis, however, this is rarely used.

Patients often present with non-specific viral symptoms of fever, myalgias, and malaise. More specific features include facial swelling (parotitis) in 95% and/or testicular pain (orchitis).

Serum IgM antibody testing can be used to confirm a case of mumps, if necessary.

Mumps is a single-stranded RNA paramyxovirus 2.

Mumps typically results in classic clinical signs and symptoms, some of which can be supported through radiological features:

The word "mumps" arises from the 1500s, and derived from a word variably used to mean "to grimace" or "to whine".

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