Causes of Mumps

Ayurvedic Name: Karnamulaka Jwara

What are the Causes of Mumps - How is it Spread?

Mumps is usually caused by a virus named paramyxovirus. Main attack of this virus is salivary glands. This virus is usually present in the infected person's saliva, nose and throat. So it can be easily spread by direct contact with saliva, like kissing of an infected person and a healthy person, or can also be spread through sharing objects contaminated with infected saliva (e.g. cups, utensils). This virus can also be spread when by breathing in droplets coming from infected persons cough or sneeze fall on a healthy person.

The incubation period (from initial infection to symptoms) of disease is quite long ranging from 2 -3 weeks. Paramyxovirus is spreads easily from person to person through infected saliva. An infected person can become contagious even 48 hours before the actual symptoms of mumps begin to be seen.

Anyone who is not immune from either previous mumps infection or from vaccination can get mumps. Before the vaccination was discovered for mumps in US, it was one of the most common diseases in small children. But now as vaccines are available against mumps so there are very less chances of falling sick due to mumps. Some rare people who get mumps, have very mild or no symptoms therefore there is not much danger. So, every child must be properly vaccine against mumps with the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccination.