AtlasSalivaryMumps (Epidemic Parotitis)

Salivary Gland Disorders

Mumps (Epidemic Parotitis)

Acute contagious viral infection by paramyxovirus causing bilateral non-suppurative parotitis; now uncommon due to MMR vaccination.

Agent
Paramyxovirus
Sign
Bilateral parotitis
Prevention
MMR ×2

§ figuresFigures (3)

Fig. 112 years old boy with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in day 4 post-chemotherapy. He arrived to emergency department with parotitis and sialadenitis.

“Parotiditis (Parotitis; Mumps)” · Afrodriguezg · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Fig. 2five year old boy with mumps.

“Mumps” · Heinrich Weingaertner · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Fig. 3Before and after being infected with Mumps.

“Mumps comparison” · The original uploader was Yeanold Viskersenn at English Wikipedia. · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Verified open-access images only, reproduced for education under their stated licences · no AI-generated or illustrative artwork · Mumps (Epidemic Parotitis) figures pending faculty review.

§ overviewOverview

Acute systemic viral infection of paramyxovirus (Rubulavirus) with tropism for glandular and nervous tissues.

§ icdICD Classification

B26

§ etiologyEtiology

  • 01Mumps virus (paramyxovirus)

§ epidemiologyEpidemiology

Peak in unvaccinated children 5–15 y; incubation 14–21 d; contagious 1 d before to 5 d after gland swelling.

§ clinicalClinical Features

  • 01Prodrome: fever, malaise, myalgia, headache
  • 02Painful bilateral parotid swelling (70%) with elevated earlobe
  • 03Trismus, pain on chewing acidic foods
  • 04Redness around Stensen duct opening without pus
  • 05Orchitis, oophoritis, meningo-encephalitis, deafness

§ differentialDifferential Diagnosis

  • 01Suppurative parotitis (unilateral, pus at duct)
  • 02Sialolithiasis
  • 03Sjögren syndrome
  • 04HIV parotid disease

§ investigationsInvestigations

  • 01Clinical diagnosis
  • 02Serology: IgM to mumps virus
  • 03RT-PCR of saliva/buccal swab
  • 04Serum amylase elevated (salivary isoenzyme)

§ treatmentTreatment

  • 01Supportive: hydration, analgesia, antipyretics, bed rest
  • 02Isolation for 5 days after swelling onset
  • 03No antivirals of proven benefit

§ complicationsComplications

  • 01Orchitis (30% post-pubertal males) → rarely infertility
  • 02Aseptic meningitis, encephalitis
  • 03Sensorineural deafness (unilateral)
  • 04Pancreatitis

§ prognosisPrognosis

Self-limiting; resolves in 7–10 days; lifelong immunity.

§ preventionPrevention

  • 01MMR vaccine at 12–15 mo and 4–6 y (two doses ≈ 88% effective)

§ examKey Examination Points

  • 01Bilateral parotid swelling with elevated earlobe
  • 02Absence of pus at Stensen duct

§ revisionQuick Revision Summary

  • 01Paramyxovirus · bilateral parotitis · MMR vaccine

§ vivaBDS Viva Questions

  • 01Complications of mumps?
  • 02How does it differ from suppurative parotitis?
  • 03Vaccination schedule?

§ mcqsMCQs — Assessment (3)

Question 1

Causative organism:

Question 2

Post-pubertal male complication:

Question 3

Prevention:

§ evidenceReferences & Evidence

Current Classification

WHO Classification of Tumours Online — Head and Neck

IARC / WHO · 2022

Continuously updated online edition of the WHO head and neck tumour classification.

View official source

Evidence summary

Highest level of evidence linked to this page: WHO / Official Classification.

  • L1 · Classification — 1
  • L3 · Systematic review — 1
  • L6 · Textbook — 3

1 linked source was published from 2024 onwards. Where guidance is limited or contested, rely on the higher-level sources above rather than this summary. Educational use only — not a substitute for clinical judgement.

Content last reviewed

September 2026

Evidence last reviewed

September 2026

Next scheduled review

September 2027

Review status

EVIDENCE REVIEWED

Search latest PubMed evidence

Last literature search: 7 September 2026

Open PubMed

Current Classification

Reference #1L1 · ClassificationWHO / Classification Verified
WHO Classification of Tumours Online — Head and Neck

IARC / WHO. IARC · 2022

Continuously updated online edition of the WHO head and neck tumour classification.

DOI: Identifier not availablePMID: Identifier not available
View source

Systematic Reviews & Meta-Analyses

Reference #2L3 · Systematic reviewSystematic Reviews & Meta-Analyses Verified
Sialendoscopy for treatment of major salivary glands diseases: a comprehensive analysis of published systematic reviews and meta-analyses

Kallas-Silva L, Azevedo MFD, de Matos FCM et al.. Brazilian journal of otorhinolaryngology · 2023 · 89(5):101293

Comprehensive review of sialendoscopy for obstructive and inflammatory major salivary gland disease.

DOI: 10.1016/j.bjorl.2023.101293PMID: 37487402
PubMedDOIFull text

Histopathology References

Reference #5L6 · TextbookHistopathology References Unverified
Surgical Pathology of the Head and Neck3rd Edition

Barnes L. CRC Press · 2008

Detailed histopathological reference for head and neck diagnostic criteria.

DOI: Identifier not availablePMID: Identifier not available

Textbook References

Reference #3L6 · TextbookTextbooksRecent Verified
Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology5th Edition

Neville BW, Damm DD, Allen CM et al.. Elsevier · 2024

Standard reference textbook of oral and maxillofacial pathology used throughout this atlas.

DOI: Identifier not availablePMID: Identifier not available
View source
Reference #4L6 · TextbookTextbooks Unverified
Shafer's Textbook of Oral Pathology9th Edition

Rajendran R, Sivapathasundharam B. Elsevier · 2020

Undergraduate and postgraduate oral pathology textbook widely used in BDS and FCPS curricula.

DOI: Identifier not availablePMID: Identifier not available

Additional sources cited on this page

  1. Hviid A. Lancet 2008

Browse the full evidence library →

Draft — pending faculty review. Educational use only; verify against current guidelines and primary sources before clinical application.