Is mumps contagious? What are the symptoms?

The contagiousness and symptoms of parotitis can vary depending on its type. Mumps is a respiratory infectious disease caused by the mumps virus. Its main transmission routes include droplet transmission and contact transmission. When an infected person speaks loudly in public, the virus may enter the air via saliva and infect others through the respiratory tract. In addition, sharing towels, tissues, or other personal items with an infected individual may also lead to viral transmission. Symptoms include swelling of the salivary glands, localized pain, and increased skin temperature, which typically appear 1–2 days after infection. These symptoms may last from several days to weeks and are often accompanied by prodromal symptoms such as fever, headache, and loss of appetite. On the other hand, suppurative parotitis is caused by bacterial infection and is generally not contagious. Its main symptoms include fever and redness, swelling, warmth, and pain in the parotid region. During the suppurative stage, pus may be expressed from the duct opening when the affected gland is squeezed. If you have any concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.