Suppurative Parotitis Bilateral Acute Symptoms Diagnosis

Parotid is the technical name for what most people call their salivary glands. Parotitis is an infection of those glands. It can be viral or bacterial and is sometimes painful depending on the cause and severity of the infection.

Viral

• Viral suppurative bilateral parotitis is commonly known as the mumps, a viral infection that causes swelling of the the salivary glands. Bilateral refers to the fact that both salivary glands are involved. Though it used to be a common disease, currently, in 2010, the mumps, measles and rubella (MMR) vaccine are required for entry into school. People born prior to 1956 are believed to be immune, as most had the mumps as children, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Bacterial

• Suppurative parotitis caused by bacterial infections is likely due to poor oral hygiene or obstruction of the salivary glands by salivary duct stones. It is also seen in people who are hospitalized or dehydrated.

Symptoms

• Both viral and bacterial suppurative parotitis have the same symptoms. In bilateral parotitis, both glands get swollen, your ability to open your mouth can be hindered, and you may get a foul taste in your mouth. Your face, particularly near your ears, down your neck and below your jaw, will appear swollen and may also appear red.

Diagnosis

• Your doctor will examine your mouth and neck. He may see pus in your mouth, which is the source of the foul taste, but he will also see that your salivary glands are enlarged. If the doctor suspects the swelling is caused by an abscess, he may order a CT scan to confirm that diagnosis.

Physician

• Most of the time, suppurative parotitis clears up on its own. You should contact your physician if you have trouble swallowing, have a high fever or have trouble breathing. These are indications that the cause may be bacterial, in which case, you will need antibiotics. If the cause is bacterial in nature, and you don't treat it, it could lead to a spread of the infection.