What should you know about surgical mumps?

Mumps mainly affects the salivary glands, especially the parotid glands beside the cheeks and below the ears. Most people with mumps notice tender swelling in this area, often with fever, headache, tiredness, muscle aches or pain when chewing. Other illnesses can also cause swollen glands, so an examination and the illness history help guide diagnosis.

Mumps spreads through respiratory droplets and saliva. It can occasionally affect other parts of the body, including the testicles, ovaries, brain or the membranes around the brain. Severe headache, neck stiffness, confusion or testicular pain needs urgent assessment.

Contact a GP for advice if mumps is suspected, and call ahead before attending because the illness can spread to others. Rest, drink fluids, choose foods that are easy to chew, and use suitable fever or pain relief according to the label. Avoid sharing drinks, utensils or towels, and limit close contact as advised by your clinician.

A GP can review your vaccination history and discuss MMR vaccination for prevention. Do not rely on antibiotics to treat mumps, because it is caused by a virus.

Seek urgent help for severe headache, neck stiffness, sensitivity to light, confusion, seizures, breathing difficulty, dehydration, severe abdominal pain, or sudden testicular or pelvic pain. Seek prompt advice for a pregnant person, an infant, or anyone with a weakened immune system who may have been exposed or developed symptoms.

Ask whether testing or isolation advice is needed, how long to avoid close contact, which pain relief is suitable, and which complications to watch for. Check whether your MMR vaccination record is complete and whether household contacts need advice.