Sialadenitis

• SIALOLITHIASIS, in which a small “stone” or mineral calculus blocks the flow of saliva and irritates the tissues of the involved salivary gland
• bacterial INFECTION, which can develop when the blockage persists because the MOUTH contains an abundance of BACTERIA
• viral infection with various viruses, including MUMPS, coxsackie, INFLUENZA, herpes, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
• AUTOIMMUNE DISORDERS such as SJÖGREN’S SYNDROME and SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS (SLE)

Diagnosis arises mostly through physical examination and other clinical indicators, though sometimes the doctor will order X-rays or other imaging procedures to help distinguish the cause or to determine whether an ABSCESS (pocket of infection) is present. Treatment focuses on the underlying cause of the inflammation. Bacterial sialadenitis requires treatment with ANTIBIOTIC MEDICATIONS. Antibiotics are not helpful for viral sialadenitis, which typically improves in 10 to 14 days. Regardless of cause, drinking plenty of fluids, frequently rinsing the mouth with warm saltwater or applying warm compresses (moist heat) to the outside of the face over the affected area, and taking a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as ibuprofen can help relieve discomfort.