Inflammation of the salivary gland is a fairly common disease, which in medicine is also known as sialadenitis. According to statistics, in most cases the disease affects the parotid glands, but almost any human salivary gland can turn into a focus of inflammation.
Many people are looking for additional data about the disease. Why does salivary gland inflammation develop? Symptoms, causes, treatment and prevention are important information that is worth exploring.
Salivary glands: summary
A person has three pairs of salivary glands, in particular, the parotid, submandibular, and sublingual. Inflammation can affect any of these organs, but, according to statistics, most often the pathological process affects the parotid glands.
The function of the glands is the secretion and secretion of saliva. In its composition there are about sixty enzymes that provide the primary digestion of food in the oral cavity. In addition, saliva has antiseptic properties, provides the formation of a food lump. The importance of the salivary glands is difficult to overestimate. That is why their inflammation is dangerous, and not only for the structures of the oral cavity, but also for the whole organism.
The main causes of the development of the inflammatory process
According to statistics, inflammation of the salivary gland in most cases is the result of activation of the infection. Most often, viruses act as pathogens. For example, the well-known mumps (“mumps”) develops against the background of infection of the tissues of the salivary gland with the epidarotitis virus. By the way, this disease is very dangerous for boys, since viral particles also affect the glandular epithelium tissue in the testicles, which can lead to infertility in the future.
Less commonly, the inflammatory process develops against the background of bacterial activity. Pathogenic microorganisms can penetrate the salivary glands both from the outside and along with the flow of blood from other foci of inflammation.
The infection enters the gland tissue from the oral cavity. That is why various gum diseases, dental problems, and non-compliance with oral hygiene are referred to risk factors.
Inflammation may result from a blockage in the salivary gland. The duct can be blocked by a foreign body or calculus. The narrowing of the duct, which is observed against the background of diabetes mellitus, depletion of the body, and malnutrition, also belongs to the list of causes. Saliva begins to stagnate in the gland, which creates ideal conditions for the propagation of pathogenic microorganisms.
Are there any risk factors?
We have already examined the main causes of inflammation of the salivary glands. But it is worth noting that there are factors that contribute to the development of the inflammatory process, especially when it comes to the chronic form of sialadenitis. Their list is as follows:
- the presence of some autoimmune diseases in the patient;
- some pathologies of internal organs;
- severe hypothermia (both general and local);
- mechanical injuries (for example, received during a shock, fall, surgical intervention);
- severe depletion of the body;
- constant stress, excessive mental or emotional stress;
- the presence of atherosclerotic plaques on the inner walls of blood vessels;
- elderly age.
It is believed that there is also a certain hereditary predisposition to such a disease as inflammation of the salivary gland. In any case, in the process of diagnosis it is very important to determine what exactly provoked the development of the disease.
Inflammation of the salivary gland: photos and general symptoms of damage to the parotid glands
A very common disease is popularly called "mumps." This is inflammation of the parotid salivary gland. The fact is that against the background of the disease, the patient’s neck swells greatly, resembling the pig’s neck. The affected salivary gland enlarges, but it is soft to the touch, has no clear edges.
Patients also complain of severe headaches. Dry mouth, loss of appetite. Symptoms include severe pain in the ear and parotid region. In children, the inflammatory process often extends to the parotid soft tissues.
Symptoms of general intoxication, such as fever and weakness, are also present. If we are talking about bacterial inflammation, then with pressure on the salivary gland, purulent masses can be observed.
Damage to the sublingual salivary gland
According to statistics, the inflammatory process in this gland rarely occurs independently. In most cases, it is associated with diseases such as sinusitis, stomatitis, tonsillitis, tonsillitis, caries. Symptoms in this case are as follows:
- excessive salivation or, conversely, dry mouth;
- bad taste;
- pain that intensifies during chewing or even talking;
- swelling of the tissues under the tongue.
Damage to the submandibular gland: features of the clinical picture
Inflammation of the submandibular salivary gland is accompanied by the following symptoms:
- swelling of the tissues and pain under the jaw (discomfort intensifies during chewing or when opening the mouth);
- constant unpleasant aftertaste in the mouth, violation of taste perception;
- redness of the mucous membranes under the tongue;
- dry mouth, the appearance of which is associated with a decrease in the secretion of saliva;
- the appearance of an unpleasant taste in the mouth;
- stomatitis (sometimes the disease is complicated by inflammation of the oral mucosa);
- fever, weakness, muscle pain.
Chronic forms of the inflammatory process
Chronic inflammation in most cases is an independent disease (it rarely develops as a complication of an acute form of the disease). In most cases, exacerbations are accompanied by the same symptoms as acute inflammation - fever, swelling of the gland tissue, severe pain, changes in taste perception appear. There are several forms of chronic inflammation of the salivary gland.
- Exacerbations of interstitial sialadenitis begin abruptly. The first symptom is dry mouth. Then the gland quickly increases in size, and its palpation is accompanied by pain.
- Parenchymal sialadenitis in most cases affects the parotid gland. With pressure on the gland, the release of a clear, brackish liquid can be observed. At later stages, purulent masses form in the gland.
- Sialodochitis is an ailment that is characterized by inflammation of the ducts alone. Most often, this form of the disease is diagnosed in elderly patients. The main sign of exacerbation is increased salivation during eating or talking. Often, patients in the corners of the lips appear jams.
Diagnostic measures
Symptoms, causes of inflammation of the salivary glands - this, of course, is important information. These points must be clarified during the diagnosis. If you notice any violations, you should contact a specialist.
As a rule, a general examination and collection of information for the anamnesis is enough to suggest that the patient has inflammation of the salivary gland. Of course, more research is being done. For example, a blood test can confirm the presence of an inflammatory process in the body. An ultrasound examination of the affected salivary gland is also carried out - this helps to determine its size, the presence of neoplasms inside, etc.
Sometimes computed or magnetic resonance imaging is additionally performed. If we are talking about a chronic form of the disease, then the patient is sent for sialography. During the procedure, a special contrast agent is injected into the gland, and then a series of x-rays are taken.
Therapy for acute inflammation
Having noticed the first symptoms of inflammation of the salivary glands, you need to contact a specialist. Therapy directly depends on what exactly caused the inflammatory process and how severe the disease is accompanied by symptoms.
- Patients are prescribed 1% solution of pilocarpine hydrochloride. This substance causes contraction of the smooth muscles of the walls of the salivary glands and improves the processes of secretion and excretion of saliva.
- Novocainic-penicillin block helps almost instantly eliminate pain, relieve swelling and inflammation in the gland itself and the surrounding tissues.
- If there is inflammation of the parotid gland, then compresses from a 30% solution of dimexide will be effective. Once a day they are applied to the parotid region and left for 20-30 minutes. The duration of therapy depends on the form of the disease and the severity of symptoms.
- For washing the ducts, antiseptic solutions, such as Dioxidin, or products containing potassium furaginate are used.
- If the inflammatory process is associated with the activity of bacterial microorganisms, then antibiotics are prescribed to patients. Penicillin drugs are considered effective. Medications are usually injected directly into the duct of the gland.
- If there is suppuration of the salivary gland, then the doctor performs an autopsy and cleansing of the abscess.
- With viral inflammation, antiviral drugs are used. Such drugs as Interferon, Laferon, Viferon are considered effective.
- Of course, symptomatic therapy is also carried out . For example, Paracetamol, Ibuprofen and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs relieve pain, have antipyretic properties.
Treatment of a chronic inflammatory process
Symptoms and treatment of salivary gland inflammation are closely related. If we are talking about a period of exacerbation of the disease, then it is treated as well as the acute form of sialadenitis. But during remission, other means and techniques are used:
- therapeutic massage of the ducts of the salivary gland (improves blood circulation and tissue trophism, prevents the stagnation of secretion inside the gland);
- sometimes antibiotics are injected directly into the duct of the salivary gland;
- 3-4 times a year, patients are sent for injection of "Iodolipol" in the gland;
- galvanization, electrophoresis with galantamine;
- special diet (patients are recommended to include in the diet products that increase the excretion of saliva, in particular, crackers, lemon, sauerkraut, cranberries).
In the event that relapses of the inflammatory process occur too often, the doctor may decide on the surgical removal of the affected gland.
Inflammation of the salivary glands: treatment with folk remedies
Many patients are interested in questions about whether it is possible to treat such a disease at home. In no case should you self-medicate - it is important to consult a doctor on time. Symptoms of inflammation of the salivary glands can be slightly alleviated with the help of traditional medicine, but this can only be done with the permission of a doctor.
- A solution of baking soda is used to rinse the oral cavity. A tablespoon of soda is dissolved in a glass of boiled, warm (but not hot) water. Rinse mouth with solution.
- To rinse, you can use decoctions of sage and chamomile. These plants have antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties.
- With inflammation of the hyoid gland, a small piece of the mummy is placed under the tongue once a day.
- Echinacea tincture, which can be purchased at the pharmacy, helps to strengthen the immune system, make the body more resistant to various infections.
Preventive actions
Many people experience problems such as salivary gland inflammation. Symptoms, treatment, causes - this, of course, is important information. But you also need to know that you can try to prevent the development of the disease.
There are no specific prophylactic agents. Nevertheless, careful and proper care of the oral cavity can significantly reduce the risk of inflammation. All diseases of the gums, teeth and tonsils must be treated on time. The same applies to colds, flu, and other infections — adequate therapy is needed. And of course, do not forget that it is important to consult a doctor when the first symptoms appear.