Mumps

What is mumps?

If your child has been vaccinated with the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella)  immunisation then you shouldn’t have anything to worry about. If not, look out for painful swollen glands around the jaw, fever, headache and difficulty with swallowing. If your child has mumps, they might also complain about a dry mouth and joint pain.

If you think your child has mumps, you should see your GP. Mumps itself is not usually serious, but it has similar symptoms to more serious types of infection, such as glandular fever and tonsillitis, so it’s best to get checked out.

How can I help my child feel better?

Although there’s no specific treatment for mumps, we know there are lots of things you can do to help your little one feel better.

Give them soft food that doesn’t require a lot of chewing, which they’ll find easier to eat, and lots of fluids. Make sure you avoid fruit juice though, as this can irritate their glands. Water is usually best.

If they’re running a high temperature, or suffering from aches and pains, medicines containing paracetamol or ibuprofen can help.

CALPOL^® Infant Suspension, which contains paracetamol, is suitable for babies over 2 months, weighing over 4kg and not premature.

CALPROFEN^® Ibuprofen Suspension starts work on a fever in just 15 minutes and lasts up to 8 hours. It’s suitable for children over 3 months and weighing over 5kg.

For help deciding whether to choose paracetamol or ibuprofen, you should read our quick guide.

Read our guide on whether to choose paracetamol or ibuprofen