Mumps is a highly contagious viral illness. It usually occurs in childhood, although older people can get it.
Mumps can result in serious complications, such as inflammation of the spinal cord and brain, hearing loss, and infertility (not being able to have children).
Mumps infection during the first trimester of pregnancy has been associated with spontaneous miscarriage.
Infection gives most people lifelong immunity, so repeat infection is rare.
A virus causes mumps. It is usually spread when a person breathes in the virus that has been sneezed or coughed into the air by an infectious person. Sharing saliva with an infected person can also spread the virus.
Fever, mild upper respiratory illness, headache, aching muscles, generally feeling unwell, swollen salivary glands (behind and below the jaw) and pain near the ear, worsening when chewing. About one-third of people with mumps have mild or no symptoms but can still infect others.
Mumps may cause complications that can be serious and have a lasting effect on your health. The 2 complications that can result from mumps are encephalitis or meningitis, which is inflammation of the brain or its linings and can cause long-term hearing loss or death. Mumps may also cause orchitis, which is inflammation of the testicles. 15-30 per cent of men who catch mumps get orchitis which can also lead to infertility.
The mumps vaccine is offered either as a combination vaccine for measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) or measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMR-V).
Both types of vaccines are very effective and have similar side effects. Your doctor can advise which vaccine is right for you.
Children get the MMR vaccine at 12 and 18 months through the National Immunisation Program. The vaccine is free. Adolescents and adults born after 1965 should have two doses of mumps containing vaccine or evidence of immunity to mumps.
Refer to the WA Immunisation Schedule for detailed information or speak to a health professional.
In metropolitan and country WA, you can get the mumps vaccine from your:
Find more information about mumps including where to get vaccinated in WA.
