Purulent mumps is not contagious. Purulent mumps is an inflammatory disease that occurs when bacteria enter the gland along the parotid ducts due to various factors such as saliva retention, stagnation, and poor oral hygiene. Acute mumps is caused by Staphylococcus aureus and chronic mumps is caused by stones, scarring around the ducts, and heavy metal poisoning. Acute suppurative mumps are mostly one-sided, with rapid onset, high fever, chills, and leukocytosis. Chronic purulent parotitis is mostly bilateral and the parotid swelling can be recurrent. Mumps needs to be differentiated from mumps, which is an acute respiratory infection caused by the mumps virus.