12 Facts About Mumps

Mumps is a viral disease caused by the mumps virus.

Mumps is highly contagious and spreads easily in densely populated settings.

Mumps infection is usually self-limiting, coming to an end as the immune system clears the infection.

Mumps historically has been a highly prevalent disease, commonly occurring in outbreaks in densely crowded spaces.

Mumps deafness is often accompanied by vestibular symptoms such as vertigo and repetitive, uncontrolled eye movements.

Mumps virus is mainly transmitted by inhalation or oral contact with respiratory droplets or secretions.

Mumps is rarely fatal, so few post-mortem analyses have been done to analyze CNS involvement.

Mumps orchitis is usually diagnosed by white blood cell count, with normal differential white blood cell counts.

Mumps is usually self-limiting, and no specific antiviral treatments exist for it, so treatment is aimed at alleviating symptoms and preventing complications.

Mumps is usually self-limiting and symptoms resolve spontaneously within two weeks as the immune system clears the virus from the body.

Mumps vaccination has the effect of increasing the average age of the infected in vaccinated populations that have not previously experienced a mumps outbreak.

Mumps vaccination is less common in developing countries, which consequently have higher rates of mumps.