A nightclub has asked partygoers to send in their best mumps photos for a chance to win £100 of clothing vouchers.
Oops Newcastle is offering the prize because a large number of mumps cases is sweeping the city.
In adults, the disease can cause a range of serious conditions and can even result in potentially fatal meningitis.
The competition has resulted in a series of ‘before and after’ pictures which most viewers have found hilarious.
But the club night itself admitted it was important to be vaccinated against the disease, incidents of which have risen as a result of fewer people getting the MMR vaccine.
Oops Newcastle is offering £100-worth of fashion vouchers to the winner. A number of people sent in their before and after photos (pictured)
The club responded to the various photos sent to them after their request on social media
Oops Newcastle posted on Sunday: ‘Some of the photos I’ve seen of people with Mumps are mental.
‘Maybe I should give out some prizes for the best mumps faces to make up for missing out on a couple of weeks of life as you’ve been sick?’
They followed it with another which read: ‘We need to do like before/after. So like a normal photo then compared to your mumps head.
‘Best one I’ll give you £100 voucher for like ASOS or something. And I’ll do some other prizes. Seen as you have been through the wars and that.’
Artur Lebed from Port Ellesmere, Cheshire had his photos sent in by a pal.
The images show the 23-year-old normally, compared to a photo of his severely swollen neck and face.
The competition has resulted in a series of ‘before and after’ pictures which most viewers have found hilarious.
Kim Bussey, 24, shared images of her looking like ‘Mr Potato Head’ after contracting the mumps virus.
Speaking today, she said: ‘I can’t believe I didn’t win. My mum forgot to take me to my second immunisations, but I got it once my mumps went last year.
‘I still suffer with sore glands, but the effect can take years to go. My memory has been affected by it too. Christmas this year gave me the look back.’
Joss Walmsley, 21, from Derby also shared his snaps with the caption: ‘Having the time of my life.’
Speaking today, he said: ‘I got it 6 months ago. I went to the doctors and firstly they said it was an ear infection, and then my mum started to get a lump on her neck.
‘I went back to the doctors and I said I may have mumps, but they was reluctant to admit it was mumps, a further 2 of my friends got it!
Competition winner Niamh Gunn who posted a picture of herself suffering from the ailment on social media
Olivia Murphy posted a number of images of herself on social media when she was suffering from the mumps
After receiving more than a thousand replies, the club conceded that people needed to get vaccinated against the mumps
‘It lasted about three to four weeks. There is no cure for mumps, which I think is ridiculous how much technology and resources we have nowadays.’
After receiving more than a thousand replies, the club seemed to concede to the very real threat.
They posted: ‘I think it’s safe to say that we all need to get vaccinated against mumps so we don’t look like that fat Snapchat filter.’
A spokesman for Oops Newcastle, which is based at Greys Club, said: ‘I just put it up for a laugh. I know it can be serious if you don’t get medical treatment but everyone in Newcastle got sorted quite quickly.
Another nightclub reveller got the pictured a nice snap of himself on holiday (right) and then a image of him suffering with the illness (left)
Ben Plunkett posted an image of him suffering from the mumps (right) and entitled it ‘let me know if you want to borrow any chins’
The nightclub admitted ‘I think it’s safe to say that we all need to vaccinated against mumps so we don’t look like that fat snapchat filter’
‘I was being sent these photos by people who come to my club night and I just thought I would turn it in to a competition. It was just a joke.’
Mumps is a serious illness that can have potentially life threatening complications.
According to the NHS website: ‘Mumps can lead to viral meningitis if the virus moves into the outer layer of the brain.
‘Other complications include swelling of the testicles or ovaries (if the affected person has gone through puberty).’
Mumps can be prevented through the MMR childhood vaccination, which provides 95% immunity.
There is currently no cure for the disease and 2018 saw 1088 confirmed cases in England and Wales alone.