How Is Mumps Contracted?

Mumps is a very common respiratory infectious disease, highly prevalent among children and adolescents. Although mumps is widespread, many people remain unaware of relevant knowledge or the etiology of the disease. So, how does one contract mumps?

How Is Mumps Contracted?

Mumps is an acute respiratory infectious disease caused by the mumps virus. It is highly contagious; however, infection typically confers long-lasting immunity. Individuals who have never had mumps may become infected when exposed to a mumps patient without taking preventive measures—for example, failing to wear a mask during close contact, neglecting to wash hands thoroughly with soap and running water after touching objects contaminated with the patient’s secretions, or consuming food contaminated by the patient. Therefore, strengthening preventive measures is crucial for avoiding mumps infection.

Early-stage patients and asymptomatic (subclinical) infected individuals serve as sources of transmission. The virus persists in the patient’s saliva for an extended period—virus can be isolated from saliva from 6 days before parotid gland swelling begins until 9 days after swelling onset. Thus, infectivity is particularly high during this two-week window. Following infection with the mumps virus, some individuals may exhibit no clinical signs of mumps; however, if complications involving organs such as the brain or testes occur, the virus may still be detected in saliva and urine. During epidemics, approximately 30%–40% of infected individuals experience only subclinical upper respiratory tract infection, making them an important reservoir of infection.

Patients are advised to cultivate good hygiene habits—washing hands thoroughly with soap and running water before meals, after defecation, and after contact with any object—as well as receiving vaccination, all of which help reduce the risk of infection. We hope this information is helpful to you.