The mumps virus enters your body through the nose and throat. You may start to feel symptoms as the virus multiplies and spreads to the brain and the membranes that cover it, to the glands (usually the salivary glands), pancreas, testicles, ovaries, and to other areas of the body.

Symptoms usually last about 10 days and may include:

• Swelling and pain in one or more of the salivary glands. One or both cheeks may look swollen. Many people consider swollen parotid glands to be a classic sign of mumps, but this symptom can also develop with other conditions.
• Fever of 101 F to 104 F.
• Headache, earache, sore throat, and pain when swallowing or opening the mouth.
• Pain when eating sour foods or drinking sour liquids, such as citrus fruit or juice.
• Tiredness, with aching in the muscles and joints.
• Poor appetite and vomiting.

Up to one-third of people who are infected with the mumps virus do not have any symptoms, especially children younger than 2 years.

Infected people can spread the virus 1 to 2 days before symptoms start and for 5 days after symptoms start.

The incubation period-the time from when a person is first infected with the virus until the first symptoms develop-is usually 16 to 18 days, although it can be as long as 25 days.

Contact your doctor immediately if you have symptoms of complications, such as a stiff neck or severe headache (related to meningitis), painful, tender testicles (from orchitis), and upper or lower abdominal pain (caused by pancreatitis or oophoritis).