Clinical meaning
Mumps is an acute, systemic viral infection caused by the mumps virus, a member of the Paramyxoviridae family and the genus Rubulavirus. The mumps virus is a single-stranded, negative-sense RNA virus with an envelope containing hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) and fusion (F) glycoproteins that facilitate viral attachment to and entry into host cells. Transmission occurs through respiratory droplets (coughing, sneezing, talking) and direct contact with infected saliva. The virus is highly contagious, with a secondary attack rate of approximately 50-60% among susceptible household contacts. After inhalation, the mumps virus initially infects and replicates in the respiratory epithelium of the nasopharynx and regional lymph nodes. A primary viremia follows within 2-3 days, disseminating the virus through the bloodstream to target organs, including the salivary glands (particularly the parotid glands), central nervous system, pancreas, testes, ovaries, and other glandular tissues. A secondary viremia occurs 5-7 days later, amplifying viral dissemination and corresponding with the onset of clinical symptoms. The incubation period is 12-25 days (average 16-18 days), and patients are infectious from approximately 2 days before symptom onset until 5 days after parotid swelling...