Complications of Mumps

Mumps can occasionally cause complications, especially in adults.

Complications can include:

• inflammation of the testicles (orchitis); this may lead to a decrease in testicular size (testicular atrophy)
• inflammation of the ovaries (oophoritis) and/or breast tissue (mastitis)
• inflammation in the pancreas (pancreatitis)
• inflammation of the brain (encephalitis)
• inflammation of the tissue covering the brain and spinal cord (meningitis)
• deafness

Inflammation of the testicles could lead to temporary sterility or decrease fertility in men, but no studies have assessed if it results in permanent infertility.