What are the symptoms of mumps? Is it contagious?

The symptoms of mumps mainly include swelling and pain of the parotid glands, along with various systemic symptoms. Parotid gland swelling typically centers on the earlobe and expands forward, backward, and downward. Swelling may initially appear on one side, followed by the other side. Parotid pain is particularly evident at the onset of the disease and worsens during eating or consumption of acidic foods. Additionally, patients may experience systemic symptoms such as fever, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, and loss of appetite. Regarding the contagiousness of mumps, it depends on the specific cause. Mumps caused by the mumps virus is contagious and mainly spreads through direct contact, respiratory droplets, and saliva contamination. It is commonly seen in school-age children. In contrast, mumps caused by bacterial infection is generally not contagious. If you have any concerns, please consult a relevant healthcare professional.