MMR Decision Aid - Comparing the risks - Mumps
Mumps is usually a mild disease in children and is less contagious than measles. However, serious complications can occur.
Common symptoms of mumps
These are usually mild symptoms and include fever, mild headaches, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, painful and swollen glands in the cheeks, neck or under the jaw in 7 out of 10 people. These symptoms usually go away within 10 days or so, if there is no serious complication.
Complications of mumps
These are usually serious conditions and include inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), partial or complete deafness and inflammation of the brain (encephalitis), which could result in hospitalisation. Complications are more serious after puberty. Boys (after puberty) and men may experience painful, swollen testicles, which very rarely causes infertility. Mumps may cause spontaneous miscarriage during the 1st three months of pregnancy. Mumps is the commonest cause of meningitis in the UK.
The table below compares the potential problems caused by mumps with the potential problems caused by the MMR vaccine.
Green - Common, usually mild symptoms that can be treated at home.
Yellow - Moderate complications that need medical attention but may not include hospitalisation.
Red - Serious complications that need urgent medical attention and could include hospitalisation.
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Potential risks in a group of 100
1/3 of children will have no symptoms. Most children will have the common and usually mild (in green) symptoms of mumps e.g. fever, tiredness, runny nose, loss of appetite, general aches and pains. 76 in 100 children may have swollen cheeks or swelling under the jaw.
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Potential risks in a group of 100
Most will have common and usually mild (in green) symptoms of the MMR vaccine e.g. pain or swelling at the injection site, joint pain and stiffness. Some may have more than one of these symptoms at the same time.
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Some may have more than one of these symptoms listed above at the same time
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14 in 100 may have moderate |
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16 in 100 may have serious (in red) symptoms |
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Rare Complications
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Rare Complications |
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1 in 20,000 children may have permanent deafness, usually on one side
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1 in 1 million children may have inflammation of the brain (encephalitis). Encephalitis from any reason may result in children surviving with permanent brain damage or death |
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4 may have high feverCopyright University of Leeds and NCIRS 2009 - Last updated date 16 Sept 2009
