Bacterial parotitis can be a chronic and recurrent condition in some adults.
Clinical features:
(1) The condition may start after the patient becomes an adult or continue childhood recurrent parotitis.
(2) There is sporadic swelling of one or both parotid glands for months or years.
(3) The swelling may be precipitated by eating.
(4) During exacerbations there is evidence of acute parotid gland infection with fever and pain.
(5) Pus can be seen exiting from the orifice of the parotid duct (opposite the crown of the second upper molar tooth) if the parotid gland is massaged.
(6) Sialography shows "sausaging" with areas of duct stricture alternating with areas of duct ectasia (sialectasis).
(7) CT scan and ultrasound may show decreased fat, inflammatory cell infiltrates and/or abscess cavities.
(8) Some patients may later develop evidence of Sjogren's syndrome.
To read more or access our algorithms and calculators, please log in or register.
