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Mumps
Alternate Names : Epidemic Parotitis
DefinitionMumps is an acute, contagious, viral disease that causes painful enlargement of the salivary or parotid glands.
Pictures & Images
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Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
The mumps are caused by a virus which is spread from person-to-person by respiratory droplets or direct contact with articles that have been contaminated with infected saliva.
The parotid glands (the salivary glands between the ear and the jaw) are often swollen. Unvaccinated children between the ages of 2 and 12 are most commonly infected, but the infection can occur in other age groups.
Other organs may be involved, including the testes, the central nervous system, and the pancreas. The incubation period is usually 12 to 24 days.
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• Definition
• Mumps Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
• Mumps Symptoms & Signs
• Mumps Prevention
• Mumps Diagnosis & Tests
• Mumps Treatment
• Mumps Prognosis
• Mumps Complications
• Calling Your Health Care Provider
• Pictures & Images
Topics that might be of interest to you Diseases & Conditions
• Measles
• Reye's Syndrome
• Rubella
Other Topics
• Abdominal Pain
• Acute
• Central Nervous System
• Drowsiness
• Eye Redness
• Face Pain
• Fever
• Headache
• Immune Response
• Immunizations - General Overview
• MMR - Vaccine
• Nausea and Vomiting
• Physical Examination
• Scrotal Swelling
• Seizures
• Sore Throat
• Swelling
• Swollen Glands
• Testes
• Testicle Lump
• Testicle Pain
Review Date : 7/29/2002
Reviewed By : Adam Ratner, M.D., Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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