What is the period of communicability (infectious period) for mumps from symptom onset?

Explanation

## Mumps: Period of Communicability **Key Point:** The infectious period for mumps extends from **1–2 days before parotid swelling until 9 days after the onset of swelling**. ## Timeline of Mumps Infectivity ```mermaid flowchart LR A["1–2 days before<br/>parotid swelling"]:::action --> B["Parotid swelling<br/>appears"]:::outcome B --> C["Days 1–9 after<br/>swelling onset"]:::action C --> D["Non-infectious<br/>after day 9"]:::outcome style A fill:#fef3c7 style C fill:#fef3c7 style D fill:#dbeafe ``` **High-Yield:** This 10–11 day window of infectivity is critical for: - School exclusion policies (exclude until 9 days after parotid swelling) - Contact tracing in outbreaks - Isolation recommendations in healthcare settings ## Clinical Correlation **Clinical Pearl:** Mumps is most contagious during the prodromal phase (fever, malaise, headache) and early parotitis. By day 9 post-swelling, viral shedding becomes negligible, and patients are safe to return to community/school. **Mnemonic:** **"Mumps: 1–2 before, 9 after"** — Remember the 1–2 day pre-swelling window and the 9-day post-swelling window. [cite:Park 26e Ch 7]