Mumps Symptoms and Signs
Many people do not develop symptoms when they become infected with the mumps virus, so they may never know they had the infection. Others develop symptoms such as fever, swollen and tender parotid glands (the salivary glands located beneath the ears), and headache.
Other possible symptoms can include fatigue, loss of appetite, and muscle aches.
What is the history of mumps?
Medical historians believe that documentation of a clinical illness consistent with mumps dates back to Greco-Roman times. The first effective vaccine against mumps was introduced in 1948 and used from 1950 to 1978. Unfortunately, this vaccine strain had limited long-term immune memory effectiveness.
- The current strain used in the United States and worldwide provides 88% long-term immunity.
- The current childhood mumps immunization schedule recommends vaccination at 12-15 months old and a booster at 4-6 years of age.
- The mumps vaccine is commonly administered as part of a combination vaccine (MMR) and also provides protection against measles and rubella (German measles).
Prior to the routine administration of the MMR vaccine, approximately 186,000 cases per year were documented in the United States. With immunization, that number has fallen to 2,015 cases in 2015.