Mumps progresses in stages. During the incubation phase, a person has contracted the virus but is asymptomatic (meaning he or she does not show symptoms). The average incubation phase is 17 days, and the range is about two to three weeks. During the next phase, symptoms develop. The main symptom is the swelling of one or both of the parotid glands (salivary glands), which lasts about 4-8 days. In addition, people suffering from mumps can have a headache, fever, fatigue, difficulty swallowing, dry mouth, and abdominal pain. Some people who contract the virus do not even show symptoms, which are usually fairly mild in children. However, teenagers and adults can develop some complications from having mumps, including swollen testicles in males, brain inflammation, hearing loss, or quite rarely, swelling of other organs such as the heart or pancreas. Most children who receive the immunization for mumps will not get it; however, people who get it should avoid contact with others as soon as they think they might have mumps until at least five days after their parotid glands start to show signs of swelling.
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