Mumps is an infection caused by the mumps virus. Children with mumps usually have painful swelling of the parotid glands. The parotid glands make saliva (spit) and are in front of the ear, around the jaw. Kids also might have a fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, and loss of appetite.

Most children with mumps recover fully in about 2 weeks with basic home care.

• If your child is uncomfortable from fever, and your health care provider says it's OK, you can give acetaminophen (Tylenol® or a store brand) or ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®, or a store brand). Follow the package directions for how much to give and how often. Don't give ibuprofen to babies under 6 months old.
• Do not give aspirin to your child or teen, as it is linked to a rare but serious illness called Reye syndrome.
• Soothe swollen parotid glands with either warm or cool compresses (whichever feels better to your child).
• Offer your child plenty of fluids to drink.
• Avoid giving your child tart or acidic liquids or food (such as orange juice, lemonade, or tomato products), which can make parotid pain worse.
• Serve a soft diet that's easy to chew.
• Help your child get plenty of rest.
• Children with mumps should stay at home for 5 days from the start of parotid gland swelling. Talk to your health care provider about when your child can return to school or childcare.

Your child:

• Has belly pain
• Has swelling or pain in the testicles
• Suddenly cannot hear well
• Has new or worsening symptoms or seems to be getting sicker

Your child:

• Gets a bad headache or a stiff neck
• Is confused or very drowsy and hard to wake up
• Has a seizure
• Isn't drinking liquids or has signs of dehydration (not enough water in the body) such as a dry or sticky mouth, sunken eyes, peeing less often, darker than usual pee, or crying with little or no tears

How does mumps spread? The mumps virus spreads in tiny drops of fluid when someone sneezes, coughs, talks, or laughs. It also can spread by sharing objects used by an infected person, such as utensils, or by touching contaminated objects or surfaces. It is most contagious a few days right before and 5 days after the start of parotid gland swelling.

How do health care providers treat mumps? There's no specific medicine for mumps. Because mumps is caused by a virus, antibiotics can't treat the infection. Antibiotics only work against bacteria. Your health care provider will help you keep your child comfortable while their symptoms improve.

Can mumps be prevented? Yes, the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine can prevent mumps. Be sure that all family members get their recommended vaccines on time. It's especially important for college students and people living in close quarters to have had both doses of the vaccine. In recent years, we have been seeing more mumps outbreaks because fewer children are getting the recommended MMR vaccines. During a mumps outbreak, some people sometimes need a third dose. Your health care provider will have the most current information.