what are mumps

Mumps is a contagious disease caused by a virus that spreads from person to person through saliva and mucus. It usually affects the glands on each side of the face, called parotid glands, which make saliva. The first symptoms of mumps are often mild and may include fever, headache, muscle aches, tiredness, and loss of appetite. After a few days, most people will have swelling of their salivary glands, which causes puffy cheeks and a tender, swollen jaw. Other symptoms may include difficulty chewing, hearing loss, pancreatitis, and miscarriage. Mumps is highly preventable through vaccination, and the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine is the best way to protect against it. Most people with mumps recover completely within two weeks, and treatment focuses on alleviating symptoms. Good basic hygiene practices, such as thorough hand-washing, covering the mouth when sneezing or coughing, and regularly cleaning often-touched surfaces, are also important in disease control.