Mumps factsheet
Introduction
Mumps is a virus that causes fever and swelling of your child’s salivary glands.
The salivary glands are found in the mouth and make saliva, or spit, to:
- keep the mouth moist
- help with eating and digesting food
- protect the teeth and gums
- protect the mouth and throat from infection.
Mumps spreads easily when infected droplets from coughing, sneezing, or talking get into the mouth or nose. The virus can also live in urine, also known as wee.
Mumps is a serious illness that can lead to:
- hearing loss
- infertility – when you cannot get pregnant, or get another person pregnant
- encephalitis or meningitis – infection and swelling in and around the brain.
Mumps is rare in Australia because of vaccination, but outbreaks can still happen.
Signs and symptoms
See your doctor if you think your child is showing signs of mumps.
Symptoms usually start 14 to 25 days after your child is infected. They can include:
- fever
- headache
- sleepiness and loss of energy
- weight loss
- swollen glands in the face, neck or salivary glands
- pain when chewing and swallowing.
Swelling can also spread to the:
- testicles
- ovaries
- brain
- pancreas
- liver
- thyroid
- heart
- breast and muscle tissue.
One in three children with mumps will not have any symptoms but can still spread the virus to others.
Diagnosis
Mumps is diagnosed through checking your child’s medical, travel and vaccine history, and:
- a physical check-up
- blood tests
- a nose or throat swab.
Treatment
Most children with mumps feel unwell for around 14 days. It can be managed at home with:
- bed rest
- drinking fluids
- eating soft foods that are easy to swallow, like soup and porridge
- using a cold compress on swollen glands
- over-the-counter pain relief for aches and fever.
Mumps can still spread while your child’s face is swollen. They must stay at home to stop it from spreading to others. Ask your doctor when it’s safe for your child to return to school or daycare
See your local doctor as soon as possible if your child:
- starts to have pain anywhere other than the face
- has a high fever that does not go down after 72 hours
- looks like they are getting sicker.
Management
Mumps vaccine
The mumps vaccine protects against the virus. Two doses are needed, at least 4 weeks apart.
The vaccine is free as part of the National Immunisation Program at:
- 12 months of age – in the combined measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine
- 18 months of age – in the combined measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) vaccine.
Catch-up vaccines are also free for:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
- refugees and asylum seekers over 10 years old
- babies under 6 months travelling to outbreak areas.
Side effects from vaccines are uncommon and usually mild. They can include:
- pain or swelling where the needle went in
- a faint, red rash
- swollen throat glands
- a mild fever
- feeling unsettled and sleepy.
Talk to your doctor if you have any concerns or if your child is having cancer treatment or taking medicine that lowers their immune system.
Stopping the spread of mumps
The best way to stop the spread of mumps is to get vaccinated.
If your child has mumps, you can help stop the virus from spreading by:
- washing hands frequently with soap and water, always before and after handling and preparing food, going to the toilet, and changing your child’s nappy
- not sharing cups, water bottles and cutlery
- encouraging your child to cough or sneeze into a tissue or the inside of their elbow.
