Alberta Health Services
Health Information
Mumps is a virus that spreads by coughing, sneezing, or having contact with saliva (such as kissing or sharing toys).
You can have no symptoms but still spread mumps. It can cause:
Learn more about mumps.
The most common symptom of mumps is swollen cheeks and neck. This swelling is painful. It can happen on one or both sides of the face and will make the cheeks and neck bulge out.
There is no cure for mumps, but there are things you can do to relieve your symptoms or your child’s symptoms at home.
There are vaccines that protect against mumps. The vaccine given most often to children is called the MMR-Var vaccine. This vaccine protects against measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (chickenpox).
The MMR vaccine protects against measles, mumps, and rubella.
Learn about Alberta’s routine immunization schedule.
Anyone who has mumps should stay out of school, daycare, work, and public places until 5 days after the salivary glands first start to swell.
It is also important to: