How Is the Mumps Virus Transmitted?
The
mumps virus resides in the mucus in the nose and throat of the infected person, along with the saliva. When that person sneezes or coughs, droplets spray into the air. The infected mucus can land in other people's noses or throats when they breathe or put their fingers in their mouth, nose, or eyes after handling an infected surface.
Following transmission of the mumps virus, a person does not become immediately sick. Once the virus enters the body, it travels to the back of the throat, nose, and lymph glands in the neck, where it begins to multiply. The mumps virus can also enter the blood and spread to the:
- Parotid gland
- Brain (meninges -- membranes that protect the brain and spinal cord)
- Breasts
- Liver
- Pancreas
- Thyroid
- Heart
- Testes or ovaries
- Kidneys.
About 20 percent of people infected with the mumps virus do not develop symptoms. It is also thought that up to half of people infected with the virus do not develop the classic symptoms of mumps, such as swelling of the face and neck. Instead, they develop upper respiratory symptoms similar to the
common cold.
The Mumps Virus -- Or Other Medical Conditions?
A mumps virus infection can have similar symptoms as other medical conditions. Some of these conditions include:
If your doctor suspects mumps, he or she will consider these conditions and rule them out before making a mumps diagnosis.
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