<p>Mumps is an illness caused by the mumps virus. It starts with:</p><ul> <li>Fever</li> <li>Headache</li> <li>Muscle aches</li> <li>Tiredness</li> <li>Loss of appetite</li> </ul> <p>After that, the salivary glands under the ears or jaw become swollen and tender. The swelling can be on one or both sides of the face. Symptoms last 7 to 10 days. Serious complications are rare.</p> <p>You can catch mumps by being with another person who has it. There is no treatment for mumps, but the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine can prevent it.</p> <p>Before the routine vaccination program in the United States, mumps was a common illness in infants, children and young adults. Now it is a rare disease in the U.S.</p> <p class="">Centers for Disease Control and Prevention </p>