The symptoms of mumps usually develop between 15-24 days after being infected with the mumps virus (the incubation period).
Swelling of the parotid glands is the most common symptom of mumps. The parotid glands are a pair of glands that are responsible for producing saliva, and they are located on either side of your face, just below your ears.
Both glands are usually affected by the swelling, although in a minority of cases, only one gland is affected.
The swelling also causes additional symptoms that include:
- a feeling of pain and tenderness in the swollen glands, and
- pain on swallowing and/or difficulty swallowing.
Other symptoms of the mumps include:
- headache,
- joint pain,
- nausea,
- dry mouth,
- mild abdominal pain,
- fatigue
- loss of appetite, and
- a high temperature (fever) of 38C (100F), or above.
When to seek medical advice
You should contact your GP if you suspect that either you, or your child, have mumps. While the infection is not usually serious, mumps share symptoms with other, more serious types of infection, such as glandular fever and tonsillitis. It is therefore always a good idea to visit your GP so that they can confirm (or rule out) a diagnosis of mumps.
