What complications have been associated with mumps?
• The mumps virus can infect the central nervous system, but the resulting illness (viral meningitis) is usually not serious. Headache and stiff neck occur in up to 15% of people with mumps. • Males who are past puberty may experience orchitis, or testicular inflammation. It causes pain, swelling, nausea, vomiting and fever. The affected area may remain tender for weeks. Approximately half of patients with orchitis experience some atrophy of the testicles, but they rarely lose the ability to produce sperm. • Some women experience inflammation of the ovaries or breasts from mumps. • Deafness, in one or both ears, occurs in approximately one person out of 20,000 who develops mumps.
