Can You Die from Mumps?

Death from mumps is exceedingly rare. There have been no mumps-related deaths reported in the United States during recent mumps outbreaks.

Can mumps kill you?

"It can cause complications, pneumonias, ear infections, encephalitis. It can leave you with a chronic inflammation of your brain called 'subsclerosing panencephalitis,' and it can kill." Mumps can inflame the brain and cause a form of meningitis.

Who is most at risk for mumps?

The disease is most common in children — about 90 percent of all mumps infections occur in children 15 and younger. However, it's becoming increasingly common for older teens and adults to get the mumps if they weren't vaccinated as children.