Mumps is an infectious viral disease which can be easily prevented through effective vaccination regimes. Though mumps generally affects children, adults can also contract the disease. Mumps only requires symptomatic treatment as it generally goes away by itself.

Common symptoms of mumps include fever, headaches, inflammation of the salivary glands, fatigue and loss of appetite.

The MMR vaccine is a combined vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella. This vaccine has been very effective and has significantly reduced the number of mumps cases globally.

Mumps is an airborne disease which spreads through saliva. Inhaling saliva droplets of an infected person or sharing utensils with such a person can transmit the disease.

Since the infection is caused by a virus, antibiotics are ineffective in the treatment of mumps. Symptomatic treatment is done using anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving agents. In most cases, the condition goes away by itself and the individual can safely resume their daily activities.