Parotitis is sialadenitis of one or both parotid glands, and is most commonly acute but can also be seen as chronic condition. Characteristic findings include swelling in area of angle of the mandible with erythema and tenderness. Other signs and symptoms include drooling, jaw / neck pain, fever, fatigue, and lymphadenopathy.

Predisposing factors include diabetes or other immunocompromise, recent surgery, poor oral hygiene, poor oral intake, and severe dehydration.

Common etiologies include:

• Bacterial infection, most commonly Staphylococcus aureus and Mycobacterium avium, and viridans streptococci
• Viral infection, eg, paramyxovirus (mumps), Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, human immunodeficiency virus
• Autoimmune disease, eg, Sjögren syndrome
• Medications / toxins
• Decreased salivary flow or blockage secondary to poor hydration in elderly patients with reduced oral intake, or postoperative patients, especially after hip and abdominal surgeries

Juvenile recurrent parotitis is unilateral or bilateral swelling of the parotid gland without fever in children. It is recurrent and may be painful. It is self-limiting, usually resolving after puberty. Etiology is not yet known or understood.

Related topic: suppurative parotitis