Most Common Site of Mumps Infection
The parotid salivary glands are the most common site of mumps infection, with parotitis occurring in 60-70% of symptomatic cases. 1
Primary Site of Infection
- The parotid glands represent the hallmark manifestation of mumps, presenting as bilateral or less commonly unilateral swelling that develops an average of 16-18 days after exposure 2, 1
- The mumps virus demonstrates particular tropism for salivary glands, especially the parotid glands, though it can also affect other sites including gonads, pancreas, and meninges 1
- Among children specifically, parotid gland involvement is most common in those aged 2-9 years 2
Clinical Presentation Patterns
- Only 30-40% of mumps infections produce the typical acute parotitis presentation, meaning the majority of infections may not manifest with classic parotid swelling 2
- Approximately 15-20% of infections are completely asymptomatic, while up to 50% present with nonspecific or primarily respiratory symptoms rather than parotitis 2, 1
- Serious complications of mumps can occur even without evidence of parotitis, which is an important clinical pitfall to recognize 2
Age-Related Differences in Site Involvement
- Research comparing children and adults found that parotid salivary gland disorder was most common in adults, while sublinguitis (inflammation of the sublingual gland) was most common in children 3
- Inapparent infection without parotitis is more common among adults than children 2
Other Sites of Involvement
Beyond the parotid glands, mumps can affect:
- Central nervous system: Aseptic meningitis occurs in 4-6% of clinical cases 2, 1
- Gonads: Orchitis develops in up to 38% of postpubertal males, while oophoritis can occur in postpubertal females 2, 1
- Pancreas: Pancreatitis is a recognized complication 1
- Inner ear: Mumps was a major cause of sensorineural deafness in the pre-vaccine era 2, 1