When viewing this topic in a different language, you may notice some differences in the way the content is structured, but it still reflects the latest evidence-based guidance.

Mumps

Last reviewed: 5 Oct 2024
Last updated: 31 May 2024

Summary

Definition

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

  • parotitis
  • history of missed or no vaccination or possible vaccine failure (primary or secondary)
Full details

Other diagnostic factors

  • constitutional symptoms
  • orchitis
  • oophoritis
  • aseptic meningitis
  • mastitis
  • encephalitis
  • deafness
Full details

Risk factors

  • unvaccinated status
  • immunosuppression
  • healthcare worker
  • international traveler
  • close-contact living (college students, prisoners, military)
  • vaccine failure
Full details

Diagnostic tests

1st tests to order

  • salivary mumps IgM
  • reverse transcriptase PCR
Full details

Tests to consider

  • CBC and differential
  • serum mumps IgM
  • serum mumps IgG
  • serum amylase
  • viral culture (CSF, saliva, or urine)
  • lumbar puncture
  • CT head
Full details

Treatment algorithm

ACUTE

all patients

Contributors

Authors

David Elliman, MB BS, FRCPCH, FRCP, FFPH, DCH, BA (Open)

Consultant in Community Child Health

Great Ormond Street Hospital

London

UK

Disclosures

DE is involved in expert legal work where those with parental responsibility disagree as to whether a child should be immunized.

Helen Bedford, PhD, FRCPCH

Professor of Children's Health

UCL Institute of Child Health

London

UK

Disclosures

HB declares that she has no competing interests.

Acknowledgements

Dr David Elliman and Professor Helen Bedford would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Kristin Furfari, a previous contributor to this topic.

Disclosures

KF declares that she has no competing interests.

Peer reviewers

Ravi Ubriani, MD, FAAD

Assistant Professor of Clinical Dermatology

Columbia University

New York

NY

Disclosures

RU declares that he has no competing interests.

Christopher D. Huston, MD

Assistant Professor of Medicine

Division of Infectious Diseases

University of Vermont College of Medicine

Burlington

VT

Disclosures

CDH declares that he has no competing interests.

Kristine Macartney, MBBS, BMedSci, MD, FRACP

Deputy Director

National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance

Postgraduate Fellow

Department Of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

The Children’s Hospital

Westmead

New South Wales

Australia

Disclosures

KM declares that she has no competing interests.

  • Differentials

    • Parainfluenza
    • Coxsackievirus
    • Acute HIV infection
    More Differentials
  • Guidelines

    • Recommended adult immunization schedule for ages 19 years or older, United States, 2024​​
    • CDC Yellow Book 2024: health information for international travel: mumps
    More Guidelines
  • Patient information

    Measles, mumps, and rubella: should my child have the MMR vaccine?

    More Patient information
  • padlock-lockedLog in or subscribe to access all of BMJ Best Practice

Use of this content is subject to our disclaimer