The symptoms of mumps usually develop between 14-25 days after being infected with the mumps virus (the incubation period), with the average incubation period being around 17 days.

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.

Glossary

• Testes: Testicles are the two oval-shaped reproductive organs that make up part of the male genitals. They produce sperm and sex hormones.
• Pain: Pain is an unpleasant physical or emotional feeling that your body produces as a warning sign that it has been damaged.
• Fever: A high temperature, also known as a fever, is when someone's body temperature goes above the normal 37°C (98.6°F).
• Loss of appetite: Loss of appetite is when you do not feel hungry or want to eat.
• Tummy: The sac-like organ of the digestive system. It helps digest food by churning it and mixing it with acids to break it down into smaller pieces.
• Swelling: Inflammation is the body's response to infection, irritation or injury, which causes redness, swelling, pain and sometimes a feeling of heat in the affected area.
• Contagious: Contagious is when a disease or infection can be easily passed from one person to another through infection.
• Ovaries: Ovaries are the pair of reproductive organs that produce eggs and sex hormones in females.