Mumps in Children: Care Instructions

Mumps is a contagious viral infection that causes painful swelling of the parotid glands, which are salivary glands between the ear and the jaw. Mumps can sometimes spread to the testicles, ovaries, or pancreas, or to the membrane that surrounds the brain and spinal cord.

Mumps usually isn't a serious infection. It is spread when a person who has it coughs, sneezes, or shares food or drinks. The virus can travel through the air. This means that your child can get mumps if they are in close contact with someone who has the virus even if that person doesn't cough or sneeze on your child. A vaccine can prevent mumps. Most cases of mumps today occur in children who were not vaccinated.

Mumps goes away on its own. Home care can help your child feel better while getting over mumps. Talk with your doctor about follow-up care.

• Give your child acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) for pain. Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label. Do not give aspirin to children and teens. It has been linked to Reye syndrome, a rare but serious illness.
• Do not give your child two or more pain medicines at the same time unless the doctor told you to. Many pain medicines have acetaminophen, which is Tylenol. Too much acetaminophen (Tylenol) can be harmful.
• Keep your child home from school, day care, or other public places until 5 days after swelling of the glands began.
• Put ice, a cold pack, or a heat pack (whichever feels better) on the swollen, painful areas for 10 to 20 minutes at a time. Put a thin cloth between the ice or heat pack and your child's skin.
• Give your child plenty of fluids. Have your child suck on ice chips or flavored ice pops. Give your child soft foods that don't have to be chewed much.
• Do not give your child sour foods or liquids. The salivary glands are very sore during mumps. Eating these foods will usually cause the glands to hurt more.