Is mumps contagious?

Written by Yuan Lin Yan
Infectious Disease
Updated on September 14, 2024
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Mumps is contagious and mainly occurs in children and adolescents. Therefore, parents should take timely protective measures for children with mumps to prevent the infection from spreading to other children. Mumps is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by the mumps virus invading the salivary glands. It is primarily transmitted through respiratory droplets, and its main clinical symptoms include fever and painful swelling in the parotid gland area, with body temperatures potentially reaching up to 40 degrees Celsius. Complications such as meningitis, meningoencephalitis, orchitis, oophoritis, and pancreatitis may also occur. For adults or children who have been infected with mumps before, the disease is not contagious again, as there are antibodies against the mumps virus in the body to resist the infection.

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How is mumps caused?

There are several causes of mumps, which can be infectious, immune, obstructive, and idiopathic. The commonly referred mumps primarily refers to epidemic mumps, a prevalent infectious disease caused by the mumps virus infection in humans. Additionally, there is suppurative mumps, an acute bacterial condition mainly caused by Staphylococcus aureus, followed by Streptococcus. Some immune types of mumps, like Sjögren's syndrome, can cause chronic, autoimmune, and immune mumps. Therefore, identifying the cause of mumps and providing timely symptomatic treatment is essential.

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What are the early symptoms of mumps?

Mumps in children is a contagious disease, and its complications can cause significant damage to the body. Its early symptoms often manifest as swelling below the earlobe, sometimes starting on one side and then appearing on the opposite side a few days later, or swelling can occur simultaneously on both sides, including the entire area around the earlobe, often with noticeable redness and tenderness. Additionally, affected children may also experience fever, headache, sore throat, loss of appetite, and nausea. Diagnosis can be confirmed through lymph nodes in the neck and an ultrasound of the parotid gland, and it can also be diagnosed by complete blood count and antibody tests to provide symptomatic treatment.

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How long is the isolation period for mumps?

The mumps we commonly refer to is an acute contagious disease caused by the mumps virus. It is transmitted through close contact with an infected individual or someone carrying the virus. Therefore, it is crucial to isolate individuals diagnosed with mumps in certain situations. Patients with mumps can shed the virus in their saliva from 7 days before until 9 days after the swelling of the salivary glands, making roughly a two-week period during which the infectiousness is at its peak. Therefore, patients with mumps need to be isolated for about two weeks to prevent the transmission of the virus to others.

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best method to treat mumps

The best treatment for mumps mainly depends on the specific condition of the child. If it is bacterial mumps, give the child some anti-infection drugs for treatment, and if there is suppuration, antibacterial treatment is necessary, along with standardized treatment. There is also epidemic mumps. If it is epidemic mumps, it is necessary to apply topical medications and timely administer oral antiviral drugs to the child because epidemic mumps is a self-healing infectious disease. Pay attention to a light, easily digestible diet, and avoid giving the child spicy and greasy foods.

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How is mumps treated in children?

The mumps we commonly refer to as children's mumps is epidemic mumps, which is prevalent among children and is a contagious disease caused by the mumps virus. It commonly occurs in the autumn and winter seasons and presents symptoms like fever and swollen salivary glands, along with general discomfort. It also frequently leads to complications such as meningitis, orchitis, and oophoritis. Patients may experience mild pain and increased pain when opening the mouth to eat. In such cases, it is important to isolate the patient, ensure bed rest until the swelling of the salivary glands completely subsides, and maintain oral cleanliness. Avoid acidic foods that may irritate the mouth, ensure adequate fluid intake, and focus on symptomatic treatment. Since antibiotics are ineffective against the mumps virus, severe cases may require antiviral medication treatment and attention to local swelling and pain relief, hoping for a swift recovery. (Please use medication under the guidance of a medical professional.)