Mumps is a viral infection. It may affect the parotid salivary glands causing pain and swelling of these glands which are located in the cheeks just below and in front of the ears. Glands on one or both sides of the face may be affected. Mumps is contagious and is spread through airborne droplets from the coughs and sneezes of infected people.

Symptoms may include:

• Fever
• Swollen parotid glands at the side of the face– sometimes one side only is affected, sometimes both sides-giving a “hamster” face appearance.
• Feeling generally unwell
  

However up to half of all people with mumps develop no symptoms, and in most other people the symptoms are fairly mild. However mumps infection may lead to complications.

Possible complications of mumps infection

• Some adolescent boys or adult men with mumps develop an inflammation in one or both testes. The inflammation is painful and usually resolves without problem, however it can occasionally lead to damaged sperm production and hence sterility. Lower abdominal pain in women may result from inflammation of the ovaries, although this is rare.
• In some instances (less than 1 in 200) mumps can lead to viral meningitis which usually clears up without any long term effects.
• Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) may occur (1in 30), but may lead to pain in the upper abdomen, nausea and vomiting.
• Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) may rarely occur – either at the time of painful salivary glands or 7-10 days later.
• Deafness (1in 25) - usually with partial or complete recovery
• Mumps during pregnancy can lead to spontaneous abortion

In recent years it has been noted that there is a section of the young UK population who are not fully protected against MMR as they may have received only one dose of the vaccine.

Studies have shown that after the first dose, between 5% and 10% of individuals are not protected against the diseases. After two doses of MMR, less than 1% are left unprotected. For this reason, all countries in the European Union and the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand recommend two doses of MMR.

There have been recent cases of outbreaks of mumps at several UK universities. The University of Kent had several cases of mumps in early 2004.

So how can I protect myself?

Any UK student now over the age of 17 is unlikely to have been offered MMR, and will therefore have no immunity to mumps unless they have already had the disease. If you are not sure if you have been immunised against MMR, vaccination is recommended and further doses are tolerated well. We strongly recommend that you see your doctor or practice nurse before starting university to have a first or booster (second dose) of MMR vaccine.