Mumps

Mumps is an acute viral infection that is spread from person to person. Mumps is a notifiable disease. Symptoms of mumps include fever, headache, tiredness and swollen, tender salivary glands (usually the parotid gland which is located just below the front of the ear). Mumps often gives the appearance of swollen cheeks or jaw. If you have mumps symptoms you should stay at home, not go to school or work and phone your GP and explain that you may have mumps. The best protection against mumps is to be fully vaccinated with 2 doses of the MMR (Measles-Mumps-Rubella) vaccine.