Which pathogen causes mumps

This can be achieved with two types of combined vaccine. In the first vaccine, the mumps component is combined with the measles and rubella German measles components and is commonly known as the MMR vaccine. In the second vaccine, the mumps component is combined with measles, rubella and varicella chickenpox components and is commonly known as MMRV vaccine. Protection against mumps is available under the National Immunisation Program Schedule. In Victoria, immunisation against mumps is free of charge for:.

If you have not received the vaccine, ask your doctor or immunisation provider about catch-up doses. From 14 years of age people require the MMR vaccine and a separate chickenpox vaccine. Not everyone should have the mumps vaccine. A person with an impaired immune system should not be immunised. If you have an impaired immune system, speak with your doctor about what options might be available. Avoid pregnancy for 28 days after the mumps immunisation.

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Skip to main content. Home Infections. Actions for this page Listen Print. Summary Read the full fact sheet. In most cases, people recover from mumps within 2 weeks. Some steps can be taken to help relieve the symptoms of mumps:. Mumps is due to an infection by the mumps virus. It can be transmitted by respiratory secretions e. When contracting mumps, the virus travels from the respiratory tract to the salivary glands and reproduces, causing the glands to swell.

Individuals infected with the mumps virus are contagious for approximately 15 days 6 days before the symptoms start to show, and up to 9 days after they start. The mumps virus is part of the paramyxovirus family, a common cause of infection, especially in children. If a pregnant woman contracts mumps in the first weeks of her pregnancy, she will have a slightly increased risk of miscarriage. As rare as some of these complications are, it is important to seek medical advice or help if an individual suspects they or their child, may be developing them.

Normally, mumps can be diagnosed by its symptoms alone, especially by examining the facial swelling. A doctor might also:. The mumps vaccine is the best method for preventing mumps; it can come on its own or as part of the MMR vaccine.

The MMR vaccine also defends the body against rubella and measles. The MMR vaccine is given to an infant when they are just over 1 year old and again, as a booster, just before they start school. Anyone born after the s would most probably have been given the MMR vaccine but, if unsure, it is always good to check with a doctor. The mumps vaccine is routinely given to children in 82 countries. In many of these countries, encephalitis and deafness related to mumps have nearly disappeared.

An adult can be given the MMR at any age; a doctor may advise someone to take the vaccine before traveling abroad to certain regions, including:.

Once the virus has entered the CSF, it can spread to other parts of your body, such as your brain, pancreas, testicles in boys and men and ovaries in girls and women. People with mumps are usually most infectious from a few days before their parotid glands swell until a few days afterwards.

For this reason, it's advisable to avoid work or school for 5 days after your symptoms first develop if you're diagnosed with mumps.

Mumps can also be passed on by people who are infected with the virus but don't have any obvious symptoms.