Mumps Causes - How is Mumps Spread?

Mumps Menu

What is Mumps?
What are the Causes of Mumps?
What are the Symptoms of Mumps?
Home Remedies for the treatment of Mumps.

Mumps is a highly contagious viral infection that spreads from one person to other very easily. However, it is the least contagious disease of all major child diseases as it requires close contact before infection can occur. The mumps virus is found most often in saliva. It usually spreads through infected droplets of coughs, sneezes and saliva, as well as through contact with contaminated items and surfaces (used tissues, shared drinking glasses or utensils). They may be even transferred by directly touching infected person's nasal or throat secretions.

The main cause of mumps is a paramyxovirus. It is transmitted mainly by infected saliva. The saliva becomes contagious six days prior to development of symptoms of mumps. The individual may be infectious for up to two weeks after the onset of swelling of the glands, but the peak period of infectivity is from a day or two before the onset of the swelling until very shortly after the swelling begins.

Lack of immunization is also one of the main factor that puts people at risk of developing mumps. Some adults may not be immunized properly, as they were not vaccinated as a child, and people with immune systems that do not work properly may also be at risk of developing mumps.

HOME | CONTACT US